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淘气鬼 (táo qì guǐ) — mischievous imp; naughty kid (often affectionate or scolding)

Definition

An affectionate (or scolding) label for a mischievous child — 'little imp / naughty kid'. Far more colorful and emotive than plain 调皮, which just means 'naughty'.

noun
mischievous impnaughty kid (often affectionate or scolding)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè ge xiǎo táo qì guǐ yòu bǎ wán jù nòng huài le.
    This little imp broke the toys again.
  • 淘气鬼，！
    Nǐ zhēn shì gè táo qì guǐ, zǒng ài dǎo dàn!
    You're really a mischievous imp, always causing trouble!
  • 。
    Jiā lǐ de xiǎo táo qì guǐ ràng wǒ měi tiān dōu máng dé tuán tuán zhuàn.
    The little imp at home keeps me busy all day.

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.

淘气mischievous
淘táomischievous气qìtemperament
偏正Modifier + head
鬼guǐperson

淘气 gives the mischievous temperament, and 鬼 names a person associated with it.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
匋
匋táo淘táo
Same sound today

淘 is built from 氵, a water form, and 匋, which gives the sound táo.

Open 淘 →

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.

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.

Open 气 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

鬼 originally drew a kneeling figure with an ugly face, perhaps a mask; the small lower right dot is a later added tail.

Open 鬼 →
Appears in
People (General)

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