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凑热闹 (còu rè nào) — to join in the fun (often in a festive or social context); (sometimes derogatory) to butt in and cause trouble

Definition

A colloquial verb-object phrase meaning 'join in the fun' at social or festive events. It can also carry a slightly negative sense — 'butt in and make a nuisance' — when used about someone unwanted.

verb
to join in the fun (often in a festive or social context)(sometimes derogatory) to butt in and cause trouble

Examples

  • ，凑热闹。
    Guò nián de shí hou, dà jiā dōu xǐ huan qù miào huì còu rè nào.
    During Chinese New Year, everyone likes to go to the temple fair to join the fun.
  • 凑热闹。
    Wǒ yě lái còu gè còu rè nào.
    Let me also join in the fun a bit.
  • 凑热闹，。
    Nǐ zài zhè r zhī huì còu rè nào, gǎn jǐn zǒu ba.
    You're only causing trouble here — hurry up and leave.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

凑còujoin
热闹lively scene
热rèhot闹nàonoisy
联合Coordinate

'凑' means to join or add, and '热闹' is the lively scene, together describing joining in the fun.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 湊; 凑 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
奏
奏zòu湊còu
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 湊 uses 氵 (water) as the meaning element and 奏 as the sound element. The simplified 凑 is a later shorthand.

Open 凑 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 熱; 热 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
灬Written in full as火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
埶
埶yì熱rè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 熱 pairs 埶 with 火 (written as 灬) to show heat, while 埶 gives a sound.

Open 热 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鬧; 闹 is its simplified writing.

  • 鬥鬥dòuto fight
  • 市市shìmarket; town

The traditional form 鬧 combines 鬥 (to fight) and 市 (market; town) to mean noisy.

Open 闹 →
Appears in
Friends & Social

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