洒脱 (sǎ tuō) — free and easy; unrestrained; casual and natural in manner

Definition

Describes a free, easy, unrestrained manner or personality — carefree in attitude and action, unconcerned with social constraints. Collocates with 性格 and 活得 to describe how someone carries themselves.

adjective
free and easyunrestrainedcasual and natural in manner

Examples

  • 洒脱，。
    Tā zuò shì fēi cháng sǎ tuō, cóng bú jì jiào dé shī.
    He does things very freely and easily, never calculating gains or losses.
  • 洒脱，。
    Wǒ xǐ huan tā nà zhǒng sǎ tuō de xìng gé, wú jū wú shù.
    I like her free-and-easy personality, so unfettered.
  • 洒脱，。
    Huó dé sǎ tuō yì diǎn, bié tài zài yì wài jiè de yǎn guāng.
    Live a little more carefree — don't care too much about others' opinions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

洒sǎfree
脱tuōunrestrained

“洒” and “脱” both suggest letting go, giving a free, unrestrained manner.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
西
西xī洒sǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

洒 combines 水, the water part, with 西, which gives the sound.

Open 洒 →

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 脫; 脱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròu
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì脫tuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 脫 puts ⺼ (meat) beside 兌, which gives the sound; the simplified 脱 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 脱 →

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