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差事 (chāi shi) — poor (in quality), not up to standard, inferior

Definition

As a second-tone reading (chāi), the word means an errand or job, but here the fourth-tone reading (chà) is used as an adjective meaning 'poor, subpar.' It describes low quality, performance, or results — a more colloquial alternative to 差劲.

adjective
poor (in quality)not up to standardinferior

Examples

  • 差事。
    Zhè jiàn yī fu de zhì liàng tài chāi shi le.
    The quality of this piece of clothing is too poor.
  • 差事，。
    Tā zuò de cài wèi dào hěn chāi shi, dà jiā dōu chī le yì kǒu jiù fàng xià le.
    The food he cooked tasted very poor; everyone took one bite and put it down.
  • 差事，。
    Zhè cì kǎo shì chéng jì hěn chāi shi, tā xīn qíng bù hǎo.
    The exam results this time were very poor; he is in a bad mood.

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.

差chàpoor
事shì

差事 describes something as poor: 差 gives the sense of poor, while 事 adds a familiar colloquial feel.

Characters in this word

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

  • 來來láiwheat
  • 𠂇𠂇𠂇left hand

差 pairs 來 (wheat) with 𠂇 (left hand), showing wheat rubbed in a hand to remove its hull.

Open 差 →

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

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

Open 事 →
Appears in
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