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含糊 (hán hu) — vague, ambiguous (of words, statements, attitudes); careless, half-hearted, perfunctory (of work, behavior)

Definition

含糊 covers both senses: 'vague/ambiguous' (words, attitudes) — similar to 暧昧 and 模糊 but more about unclear intent — and 'careless, perfunctory' (work), close to 敷衍.

adjective
vagueambiguous (of words, statements, attitudes)carelesshalf-heartedperfunctory (of work, behavior)

Examples

  • 含糊，。
    Zhè ge shuō míng hěn hán hu, bù róng yì lǐ jiě.
    This explanation is very vague; it's not easy to understand.
  • 含糊，。
    Tā zuò shì cóng lái bù hán hu, suǒ yǐ dà jiā dōu hěn xìn rèn tā.
    He is never careless in his work, so everyone trusts him.
  • ，含糊。
    Miàn duì zhè ge wèn tí, tā de tài dù hěn hán hu.
    Facing this question, his attitude is ambiguous.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

含hánvague
糊húmuddled

Vague and muddled together suggest unclearness.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
今
今jīn含hán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

含 is built from 口 (mouth) and 今 (jīn). The 口 part is about the mouth, while 今 gives the sound.

Open 含 →

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
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
胡
胡hú糊hú
Same sound today

糊 pairs 米 (rice) with 胡 (hú), which gives the sound. The 米 part relates to the meaning.

Open 糊 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Good & Bad

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