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不周 (bù zhōu) — inadequate, unsatisfactory (used in polite self-criticism); thoughtless, inconsiderate (of one's actions or service)

Definition

Formal, written self-deprecation: 'inadequate, thoughtless,' used to politely apologize for one's own (or one's team's) poor arrangements or service — not used to describe others' mistakes.

verb
inadequateunsatisfactory (used in polite self-criticism)thoughtlessinconsiderate (of one's actions or service)

Examples

  • 不周，。
    Zhāo dài bù zhōu de dì fāng, qǐng duō bāo han.
    Please forgive any inadequacy in the hospitality.
  • 不周，。
    Zhè cì ān pái què yǒu bù zhōu zhī chù, wǒ men shēn gǎn bào qiàn.
    There were indeed some unsatisfactory aspects in this arrangement, and we deeply apologize.
  • ，不周。
    Tā zuò shì cū xīn, cháng cháng kǎo lǜ bù zhōu.
    He is careless in doing things and often doesn't think things through.

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.

不bùnot
周zhōuthorough

不 says not, and 周 means thorough, giving a sense of inadequate care.

Characters in this word

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

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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

The oldest form of 周 drew a jade artifact with carved patterns. It was later borrowed for a place name, so an extra mark was added to distinguish it.

Open 周 →
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