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穷光蛋 (qióng guāng dàn) — (derogatory, colloquial) pauper, poor wretch, extremely poor person

Definition

A derogatory, colloquial insult for a 'pauper' or 'poor wretch' — far stronger and ruder than neutral words like 穷人. Use only when you mean to mock; it can hurt feelings (see example 2).

noun
(derogatory, colloquial) pauperpoor wretchextremely poor person
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • ，穷光蛋。
    Tā yǐ qián shì gè fù wēng, xiàn zài biàn chéng le yí gè qióng guāng dàn.
    He used to be a rich man, now he's become a pauper.
  • 穷光蛋，。
    Bié yòng qióng guāng dàn zhè zhǒng cí mà rén, hěn bù lǐ mào.
    Don't use a word like 'pauper' to insult people; it's very rude.
  • 穷光蛋，。
    Suī rán wǒ shì gè qióng guāng dàn, dàn wǒ huó dé hěn kuài lè.
    Although I'm a poor wretch, I live very happily.

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.

穷光poor and bare
穷qióngpoor光guāngbare
联合Coordinate
蛋dànderogatory person

穷 (poor) and 光 (bare) describe destitution, and 蛋 mocks the person so described.

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 窮; 穷 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
穴穴xuécave; nest; confinement
Sound part声符shēngfú
躬
躬gōng窮qióng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 窮, 穴 (cave; nest; confinement) gives the sense and 躬 gives the sound; this is about 窮, not the simplified 穷.

Open 穷 →

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

  • 火火huǒfire
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The shape 光 places 火 (fire) above 卩 (a kneeling person), showing fire over the head and the shining of light.

Open 光 →

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
虫虫chóngsnake, insect
Sound part声符shēngfú
延
延yán蛋dàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 蛋, the lower part 虫 is a snake or insect, and the upper part is a shortened 延 giving the sound for 'egg'.

Open 蛋 →
Appears in
People (General)

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