客客气气 (kè kè qì qì) — overly polite; courteous in a formal or elabora… | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Reduplication of 客气 meaning 'overly or formally polite' — often with a hint that the politeness feels excessive or not natural. The first example hints at a slight awkwardness.

verb

overly politecourteous in a formal or elaborate manner

Examples

客客气气，。
Tā duì měi gè rén dōu kè kè qì qì de, ràng rén jué de hěn shū fu.
He is very polite to everyone, which makes people feel comfortable.
，客客气气。
Kè rén lái le, tā zǒng shì kè kè qì qì dì zhāo dài.
When guests come, she always entertains them in a very courteous manner.
，客客气气，。
Liǎng gè rén dì yī cì jiàn miàn, dōu kè kè qì qì de, yǒu diǎn bú zì rán.
The two people meeting for the first time were overly polite, which felt a bit unnatural.

Origin

Reduplicated word

构词法gòucífǎ

重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

客客

重叠Reduplication

气气

重叠Reduplication

客客气气, the AABB form of 客气, intensifies the overall sense of being courteous.

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.

宀各客

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánroof

Sound part声符shēngfú

各

各gè客kè

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 客, 宀 is a roof and 各 gives the sound; the character meant a guest.

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

宀各客

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánroof

Sound part声符shēngfú

各

各gè客kè

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 客, 宀 is a roof and 各 gives the sound; the character meant a guest.

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.

气米氣

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.

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.

气米氣

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.

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