管家婆 (guǎn jiā pó) — (derogatory) busybody; person who meddles in everything (usually of a woman); housewife; female house manager

Definition

Used for a woman who manages a household, or (derogatory) a female busybody who meddles in everything. The second sense is far more common in everyday talk.

noun
(derogatory) busybodyperson who meddles in everything (usually of a woman)housewifefemale house manager
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 管家婆，。
    Tā zhēn shì gè guǎn jiā pó, shén me shì dōu yào guǎn.
    She's really a busybody; she has to meddle in everything.
  • 管家婆，。
    Bié dāng guǎn jiā pó le, ràng tā men zì jǐ jué dìng.
    Stop being a busybody and let them decide for themselves.
  • 管家婆，。
    Yǐ qián tā shì jiā lǐ de guǎn jiā pó, xiàn zài hái zi men dōu zhǎng dà le.
    She used to be the house manager at home, but now the children have grown up.

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.

管家manage the household
管guǎnmanage家jiāhousehold
动宾Verb + object
婆pówoman

管 manage and 家 household form the idea of managing a household, and 婆 points to a woman.

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
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
官
官guān管guǎn
Same sound today

管 has 竹 (bamboo) on top to show it relates to bamboo, and 官 gives its sound.

Open 管 →

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢑓
𢑓𢑓家jiā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The early drawing of 家 showed a roof 宀 over a male-pig sign 𢑓 that gave the pronunciation; the lower part later changed shape.

Open 家 →

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
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
波
波bō婆pó
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

婆 pairs 女 (woman) with 波, which gives the sound. The 女 part shows the character is about a woman.

Open 婆 →

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