古里古怪 (gǔ lǐ gǔ guài) — odd, weird, bizarre, eccentric (fixed expression)

Definition

A vivid, colloquial reduplicated idiom meaning 'odd, weird, eccentric' — stronger and more colorful than plain 奇怪, often describing a person's behavior, style, or an unsettling atmosphere.

idiom
oddweirdbizarreeccentric (fixed expression)

Examples

  • 古里古怪，。
    Tā jīn tiān de dǎ bàn gǔ lǐ gǔ guài de, ràng rén hěn bù xí guàn.
    His outfit today is so weird, it makes people feel very uncomfortable.
  • 古里古怪，。
    Zhè ge lǎo fáng zi lǐ de qì fen gǔ lǐ gǔ guài, wǒ yǒu diǎn hài pà.
    The atmosphere in this old house is bizarre — I'm a bit scared.
  • 古里古怪？
    Nǐ zěn me yě xué tā nà zhǒng gǔ lǐ gǔ guài de xíng wéi?
    Why are you imitating his eccentric behavior too?

Origin

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

One reading of 古 sees a shield-like shape above an open mark, showing strength and firmness. Another sees a person spitting out bad-tasting food.

Open 古 →

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 裡; 里 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 里 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (里, 里面) it is 裡; in others (公里) it is 里 or 裏.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衤Written in full as衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
里
里lǐ裡lǐ
Same sound today

The form 裡 pairs 衤 (clothes) with 里 as a sound component.

Open 里 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

One reading of 古 sees a shield-like shape above an open mark, showing strength and firmness. Another sees a person spitting out bad-tasting food.

Open 古 →

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
忄Written in full as心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
圣
圣shèng怪guài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

怪 is built from 忄, a form of 心, which relates to mind or feeling, and 圣, which gives the sound.

Open 怪 →

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