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纨绔子弟 (wán kù zǐ dì) — (idiom) spoiled, hedonistic son of rich parents; idle rich kid

Definition

A literary idiom for a 'rich, idle playboy' from a wealthy family — used for sons who only pursue pleasure and squander the family fortune. Strongly negative and written; for everyday speech, 富二代 is more common.

idiom
spoiledhedonistic son of rich parentsidle rich kid

Examples

  • 纨绔子弟，。
    Tā shì gè diǎn xíng de wán kù zǐ dì, zhěng tiān zhī dǒng de chī hē wán lè.
    He's a classic rich brat who only knows how to eat, drink, and enjoy himself all day.
  • 纨绔子弟，。
    Nà xiē wán kù zǐ dì jù zài yì qǐ, chú le pān bǐ jiā chǎn shén me dōu bú huì.
    Those spoiled rich kids get together and do nothing but flaunt their family wealth.
  • 纨绔子弟。
    Zhè ge xiǎo shuō lǐ de wán kù zǐ dì zuì zhōng bài guāng le jiā yè.
    In this novel, the idle son ends up squandering the entire family fortune.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

纨绔silk trousers
纨wánfine silk绔kùtrousers
偏正Modifier + head
子弟sons and younger brothers
子zǐson弟dìyounger brother
联合Coordinate

纨绔, originally silk trousers, marks rich attire, and 子弟 means sons and younger brothers; together it paints idle sons of wealthy families.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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 絝; 绔 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹糹sīsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
夸
夸kuā絝
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 絝 pairs 糹 (silk) with 夸 (kuā) for the sound; it meant pants. The simplified 绔 is a later abbreviation.

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →

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

弟 pictures a spear handle wrapped in a leather strap. The wrapping showed order, and that meaning was extended to a younger brother.

Open 弟 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesPeople (General)

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