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利索 (lì suo) — nimble, agile (of movements); crisp, efficient, clean (of actions or speech); neat, tidy (of appearance)

Definition

Colloquial word covering nimble movements, crisp efficient work, and a tidy appearance. 灵活 is more about flexible thinking/plans; 敏捷 focuses only on quick physical or mental movement.

adjective
nimbleagile (of movements)crispefficientclean (of actions or speech)neattidy (of appearance)

Examples

  • ，利索。
    Zhè wèi lǎo yé ye suī rán qī shí duō le, dòng zuò hái shì hěn lì suo.
    This old gentleman, though over seventy, is still very nimble.
  • 利索，。
    Xīn lái de tóng shì zuò shì tè bié lì suo, cóng bù tuō ní dài shuǐ.
    The new colleague works very efficiently, never dragging things out.
  • 利索，。
    Nǐ jīn tiān chuān dé zhēn lì suo, kàn qǐ lái hěn yǒu jīng shén.
    You look very neat today, you seem full of energy.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

利 combines 禾 (grain) and 刀 (knife), showing a knife used to cut grain.

Open 利 →

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

  • 糸糸mìthread
  • 𣎳𣎳𣎳strip fibres off a hemp stalk

索 combines 糸 (thread) and 𣎳 (stripping fibres from a hemp stalk), showing threads or rope being pulled out from a fabric.

Open 索 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9AppearancePersonality & Traits

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