残废 (cán fèi) — (stative verb) disabled, handicapped (dated; of…

Definition

An older, dated term for 'disabled/handicapped' that can sound offensive today. Use the neutral 残疾 instead; avoid labeling a person as 残废.

adjective

(stative verb) disabledhandicapped (dated; often offensive; use 残疾 for neutral term)

残废。
Zhè ge lǎo rén yīn wèi zhàn zhēng cán fèi le.
This old man was disabled because of the war.
“残废”，“”。
Yǐ qián rén men yòng "cán fèi" zhè ge cí, xiàn zài tōng cháng yòng "cán jí".
In the past people used the word "∼", but now they usually use "cánjí".
残废。
Shuō tā cán fèi hěn bù lǐ mào.
Calling him disabled is very impolite.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

残 suggests injury or damage, and 废 suggests loss of use; together they describe a disabled or maimed state.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 殘; 残 is its simplified writing.

歹戔殘

Meaning part形符xíngfú

歹歹dǎivicious, bones

Sound part声符shēngfú

戔

戔jiān殘cán

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 殘 pairs 歹, a bone shape for injury, with 戔 for its sound; the simplified 残 is a later shorthand.

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 廢; 废 is its simplified writing.

广發廢

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

發

發fā廢fèi

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 廢 shows 广 as a house and 發 as the sound.

Appears in