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娇生惯养 (jiāo shēng guàn yǎng) — to be pampered and spoiled since childhood (often with the connotation of being unable to cope with hardships)

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'spoiled from birth' — describes someone raised without hardship and unable to handle difficulty. Carries a critical, often disapproving tone about the person's lack of resilience.

idiom
to be pampered and spoiled since childhood (often with the connotation of being unable to cope with hardships)

Examples

  • 娇生惯养，。
    Tā cóng xiǎo jiāo shēng guàn yǎng, shén me kǔ dōu méi chī guò.
    He has been pampered since childhood and has never endured any hardship.
  • 娇生惯养，。
    Zhè zhǒng jiāo shēng guàn yǎng de hái zi, hěn nán shì yìng jiān kǔ de shēng huó.
    Such a pampered child finds it hard to adapt to a hard life.
  • 娇生惯养，。
    Tā suī rán jiāo shēng guàn yǎng, dàn gōng zuò hòu biàn de hěn dú lì.
    Although she was pampered since childhood, she became very independent after starting 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.

娇生pampered at birth
娇jiāopamper生shēngbirth
偏正Modifier + head
惯养indulged in upbringing
惯guànaccustomed养yǎngraise
偏正Modifier + head

娇生 and 惯养 together describe being pampered at birth and indulged in upbringing.

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 嬌; 娇 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
喬
喬qiáo嬌jiāo
Same sound today

The traditional form 嬌 has 女 (woman) beside 喬, which gave the sound; the simplified 娇 is a shorthand.

Open 娇 →

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

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

Open 生 →

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 慣; 惯 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
貫
貫guàn慣guàn
Same sound today

The traditional form 慣 shows 忄 (heart) beside 貫, which gives the sound; the simplified 惯 is a shorthand. Habit is what one does by heart.

Open 惯 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 養; 养 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 養 uses 羊 as a sound part and 食 as a meaning part.

Open 养 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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