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麻痹 (má bì) — numb, paralyzed; to become numb, to paralyse (medical); complacent, negligent; to lull into complacency, to desensitise (figurative)

Definition

Literally 'to paralyze / numb,' used medically (瘫痪 is more clinical for full-body paralysis) and, more commonly at this level, figuratively for 'lulled into complacency' — stronger than 自满 (quiet self-satisfaction).

numbparalyzedto become numbto paralyse (medical)complacentnegligentto lull into complacencyto desensitise (figurative)

Examples

  • 麻痹。
    Zhè zhǒng bìng huì má bì jī ròu xì tǒng.
    This disease can paralyze the muscular system.
  • 麻痹。
    Qiān wàn bú yào bèi zàn shí de chéng gōng má bì.
    Never be lulled by temporary success.
  • 麻痹，。
    Tā zuì jìn hěn má bì, gōng zuò chū le bù shǎo chā cuò.
    He has been very negligent recently and has made many mistakes at work.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

麻mánumb
痹bìparalysis

numb and paralysis combine to mean loss of sensation or complacency.

Characters in this word

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

麻 combines 厂 and 𣏟 to represent hemp leaves.

Open 麻 →

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
疒疒nèsickness
Sound part声符shēngfú
畀
畀bì痹bì
Same sound today

痹 combines 疒, the sickness part, with 畀, which gives the pronunciation.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Illness & Symptoms

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