孬 (nāo) — (colloquial) bad, inferior; (colloquial) cowardly, spineless

Definition

Strongly colloquial, somewhat vulgar word for 'bad/inferior' or 'cowardly' — much more forceful and slangy than plain 坏, so reserve it for very casual speech.

adjective
(colloquial) badinferior(colloquial) cowardlyspineless

Examples

  • 孬，。
    Zhè dōng xī zhì liàng tài nāo le, méi yòng jǐ tiān jiù huài le.
    This thing is really bad quality — it broke after just a few days.
  • 孬，。
    Tā nà me nāo, dà jiā dōu qiáo bù qǐ tā.
    He is such a coward that everyone looks down on him.
  • 孬，！
    Bié nà me nāo, yǒng gǎn yì diǎn!
    Don't be such a coward — be brave!

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

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

孬 stacks 不 (no, not) over 好 (good, well), so it reads as not good, meaning bad.

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