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乖乖 (guāi guāi) — (adverb/state word) obediently, well-behaved; (term of address) little dear, darling (to a child)

Definition

Cutesy, affectionate reduplication of 乖. Used as an adverb 'obediently' (often with 地) and as a term of address to a small child. The third example (praising a child who finally behaves) is a colloquial exclamation.

bound form
(adverb/state word) obedientlywell-behaved(term of address) little deardarling (to a child)

Examples

  • 乖乖，。
    Nǐ guāi guāi dì zuò hǎo, bié luàn dòng.
    Sit still obediently and don't fidget.
  • 乖乖，。
    Xiǎo guāi guāi, lái ràng mā ma bào bào.
    Sweetie, come let Mommy give you a hug.
  • 乖乖！？
    guāi guāi! Nǐ zhè dào tí jū rán zuò duì le?
    Wow! You actually got this problem right?

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

乖guāiobedient
乖guāiobedient

The repeated 乖 'obedient' gives an affectionate, obedient form.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 乖 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 乖 →
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