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轻浮 (qīng fú) — frivolous; flippant (of a person's manner, speech, or character, lacking seriousness)

Definition

Describes a person's manner, speech, or character as lacking seriousness — frivolous, flippant, not trustworthy. Often carries a negative moral judgment about the person, stronger and more pejorative than just 'playful'.

adjective
frivolousflippant (of a person's manner, speech, or character, lacking seriousness)

Examples

  • 轻浮，。
    Tā zài huì yì shàng shuō huà tài qīng fú, yì diǎn dōu bù yán sù.
    He spoke too flippantly at the meeting, with no seriousness at all.
  • 轻浮，。
    Dà jiā dōu bù xǐ huan tā qīng fú de tài dù, jué de tā bù kě kào.
    Everyone dislikes his frivolous attitude and finds him unreliable.
  • 轻浮。
    Tā nà zhǒng qīng fú de yǔ qì ràng rén tīng le hěn bù shū fu.
    That flippant tone of hers makes people very uncomfortable.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

轻qīnglight
浮fúfloating

Both 轻 and 浮 suggest lightness or lack of weight, giving a flighty 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 輕; 轻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng輕qīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輕 pairs 車, a carriage, with 巠 to give the sound; it originally named a light carriage. The simplified 轻 is only a later shorthand.

Open 轻 →

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shuǐriver
Sound part声符shēngfú
孚
孚fú浮fú
Same sound today

浮 pairs 水 (river) with 孚, which gives the sound; the river part points to its meaning of floating.

Open 浮 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

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