死板 (sǐ bǎn) — rigid, inflexible | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Means 'rigid and inflexible' — used for people, rules, or methods stuck in one way with no flexibility. Stronger and more judgmental than 灵活's opposite sense; pairs with 思想, 方法, 规则.

adjective

rigidinflexible

Examples

死板。
Tā de sī xiǎng hěn sǐ bǎn.
His way of thinking is very rigid.
死板，。
Zhè tiáo guī zé tài sǐ bǎn le, xū yào gǎi yí xià.
This rule is too rigid; it needs to be changed.
死板，。
Zuò shì tài sǐ bǎn de huà, huì shī qù hěn duō jī huì.
If you are too rigid in doing things, you will miss many opportunities.

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.

死 “fixed” sharpens 板 “stiff” into a sense of inflexibility.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

尸

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

死 is built from 歹 and 尸: 歹 is the part tied to the meaning, and 尸 gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

木反板

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree

Sound part声符shēngfú

反

反fǎn板bǎn

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

板 pairs 木 (tree) with 反 as a sound part.

Appears in

Personality & Traits

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