不端 (bù duān) — improper (of behavior); dishonorable (of conduct)

Definition

A formal, bookish word for 'improper' or 'dishonorable' behavior, almost always in set phrases like 行为不端 or 品行不端. It is a noun/adjective phrase describing conduct, not a verb.

verb
improper (of behavior)dishonorable (of conduct)

Examples

  • 不端。
    Tā yīn wèi xíng wéi bù duān bèi gōng sī kāi chú le.
    He was fired by the company for improper behavior.
  • 不端。
    Zhè wèi guān yuán yīn pǐn xíng bù duān ér shòu dào diào chá.
    This official is under investigation due to dishonorable conduct.
  • 不端。
    Gōng sī duì yuán gōng de bú bù duān xíng wéi líng róng rěn.
    The company has zero tolerance for improper behavior by employees.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

不bùnot
端duānupright

“不” (not) with “端” (upright) gives improper conduct.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
立立lì
Sound part声符shēngfú
耑
耑zhuān端duān
Same sound today

端 is made by putting 立 beside 耑. The 立 part is connected to the meaning, and 耑 gives the sound.

Open 端 →

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