下流话 (xià liú huà) — obscenities; vulgar language

Definition

Vulgar or obscene words, typically used as a count noun (一点下流话, 几句下流话). Stronger and more sexually explicit than 脏话 (general profanity/swear words).

noun

obscenitiesvulgar language

Measure word · 句

下流话。
Tā shuō huà shí zǒng shì dài hěn duō xià liú huà.
He always uses a lot of obscenities when he speaks.
下流话，。
Zhè bù diàn yǐng lǐ yǒu hěn duō xià liú huà, bú shì hé hái zi kàn.
This movie has a lot of vulgar language, not suitable for children.
下流话。
Zài gōng gòng chǎng hé shuō xià liú huà shì bù lǐ mào de.
Saying obscenities in public is impolite.

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.

下流vulgar

偏正Modifier + head

“下流” carries a low, vulgar sense, and “话” is speech, meaning vulgar speech.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

㐬

㐬㐬流liú

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

流 has 水, water, and 㐬, which gives the sound. The water part matches meanings such as flow.

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 話; 话 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

𠯑

𠯑𠯑話huà

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 話, 言 relates to words and 𠯑 gives the sound; the simplified 话 is a shorthand, so its right side is not that sound part.