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没出息 (méi chū xi) — to lack promise, to be a disappointment (often used as criticism or scolding); (scolding interjection) Shame on you!; You're hopeless!

Definition

A scolding adjective meaning 'hopeless, lacking ambition or promise' — used to criticize someone (often a child) for being lazy or unaccomplished. Functions as a predicate adjective or scolding interjection (真没出息!).

to lack promiseto be a disappointment (often used as criticism or scolding)(scolding interjection) Shame on you!You're hopeless!

Examples

  • 没出息，！
    Nǐ zěn me zhè me méi chū xi, kǎo shì yòu bù jí gé!
    How can you be so hopeless, failing the exam again!
  • ，没出息。
    Tā zhěng tiān yóu shǒu hào xián, zhēn méi chū xi.
    He loafs around all day, truly worthless.
  • 没出息，。
    Wǒ zǒng jué de zì jǐ hěn méi chū xi, méi yǒu zuò chū shén me chéng jì.
    I always feel I'm such a disappointment, haven't achieved anything.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

没méinot have
出息prospects
出chūcome out息xīgrow
联合Coordinate

The 没 marks absence, while 出 and 息 together suggest prospects.

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 沒; 没 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬛
𠬛𠬛沒mò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 沒 pairs 水 (water) with 𠬛 as a sound part; this note is about 沒, not the simplified 没.

Open 没 →

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

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

Open 出 →

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

In 息, 自 is nose and 心 is heart, showing breath or life passing through one's nose.

Open 息 →
Appears in
Personality & TraitsGood & Bad

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