Definition
德行 literally means 'moral integrity and conduct', a formal noun for virtuous character. However, in spoken Chinese it is far more common in a sharp, ironic sense: describing someone's annoying or contemptible behavior, equivalent to 'the nerve of you!' or 'what a sight!'. This usage often appears in fixed expressions like 看你那德行 ('look at the state of you'). The tone can be derogatory or affectionately teasing depending on context.
noun
moral integrityvirtuous conduct
n.
(noun, colloquial) annoying or contemptible behaviorthe nerve or audacity (used in disapproval or teasing)
Examples
- 德行。Yí gè rén de dé xíng bǐ tā de cáifù gèng zhòngyào.A person's moral integrity is more important than their wealth.
- ,德行!Kǎo zhème diǎn fēn, kàn nǐ nà dé xíng!You got such low marks — look at you!
- ,德行。Tā jūrán sāhuǎng, zhēn shì dé xíng yǒu wèntí.He actually lied — there's definitely something wrong with his character.
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