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孩子气 (hái zi qì) — (noun) childishness, childish behavior or quality; (stative verb) to be childish, to act like a child

Definition

A noun/adjective meaning 'childishness' — describing someone's behavior or temperament that is silly or immature like a child's. Usually used to gently criticize or tease, often carrying a slightly fond tone.

noun
childishnesschildish behavior or quality(stative verb) to be childishto act like a child

Examples

  • ，孩子气。
    Tā suī rán nián jì bù xiǎo le, dàn hái yǒu yì diǎn hái zi qì.
    Although he's not young anymore, he still has a bit of childishness.
  • ，孩子气？
    Nǐ zhè me dà de rén le, bié nà me hái zi qì hǎo bu hǎo?
    You're a grown-up, so don't be so childish, OK?
  • 孩子气。
    Tā nà zhǒng hái zi qì de pí qi ràng péng you men kū xiào bù dé.
    His childish temper made his friends not know whether to laugh or cry.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

孩子child
孩háichild子zǐ
气qì

“孩子” names a child and “气” suggests an air or manner, so the word means childishness.

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
子子zǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
亥
亥hài孩hái
Same sound today

In 孩, the left part 子 shows a child, while the right part 亥 supplies the sound.

Open 孩 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

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