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弱智 (ruò zhì) — (derogatory, originally clinical) mentally retarded, intellectually disabled; (slang, offensive) stupid, idiotic

Definition

A clinically dated term for intellectual disability that is now heard almost entirely as a slang insult meaning 'stupid, idiotic' and is considered offensive. Avoid using it to refer to people — say 智力障碍 for the clinical meaning.

adjective
(derogatory, originally clinical) mentally retardedintellectually disabled(slang, offensive) stupididiotic

Examples

  • 弱智。
    Zhè zhǒng jiào xué fǎ duì ruò zhì ér tóng hěn yǒu bāng zhù.
    This teaching method is very helpful for children with intellectual disabilities.
  • 弱智。
    Nǐ zhè me zuò jiǎn zhí tài ruò zhì le.
    Doing this is just so stupid.
  • 弱智，。
    Xiàn zài dà jiā jǐn liàng shǎo yòng ruò zhì zhè ge cí, yīn wèi tā hěn bù zūn zhòng rén.
    Nowadays people try to avoid using the word 'retarded' as much as possible because it's very disrespectful.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

弱ruòweak
智zhìintellect

弱 (weak) and 智 (intellect) describe weak mental ability.

Characters in this word

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

  • 弓弓gōngbow
  • 彡彡shānhair, meaning "decoration" in this case

弱 pairs 弓 (bow) with 彡 (hair), showing a decorative bow that is functionally inferior, or a shaking, worn-out bow.

Open 弱 →

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

The early form 智 used 大 (adult), 口 (mouth), and 子 (child): an adult speaking to pass knowledge to a child.

Open 智 →
Appears in
Injury & Disability

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