油滑 (yóu huá) — slick, oily, unctuous (of a person's character or speech)

Definition

Describes a person or manner that is slick and unctuous — smooth-talking but not trustworthy, often flattering to gain advantage.

adjective
slickoilyunctuous (of a person's character or speech)

Examples

  • 油滑，。
    Tā shuō huà tài yóu huá, ràng rén bù gǎn xiāng xìn.
    He speaks too slickly — it makes people not dare to believe him.
  • 油滑，。
    Nà ge tuī xiāo yuán hěn yóu huá, zǒng shì shuō hǎo tīng de huà.
    That salesperson is very oily, always saying nice things.
  • 油滑。
    Wǒ bù xǐ huan tā nà zhǒng yóu huá de tài dù.
    I don't like that slick attitude of his.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

油yóuoily
滑huáslippery

油 ('oily') and 滑 ('slippery') together describe a slick, unctuous manner or speech.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
由
由yóu油yóu
Same sound today

油 is built from 氵, a water part, and 由, which supplies the sound.

Open 油 →

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
骨
骨gǔ滑huá
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

滑 pairs 水 (water) with 骨, which gives the sound.

Open 滑 →

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