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玩意 (wán yì) — (colloquial) thing, stuff (often in a dismissive or vague sense); toy, plaything; act, trick (in a performance or show)

Definition

Colloquial word for 'thing, gadget' — often used vaguely or with a dismissive tone, like 'that thingamajig'. It can also mean a 'toy', or an 'act/trick' in a performance.

noun
(colloquial) thingstuff (often in a dismissive or vague sense)toyplaythingacttrick (in a performance or show)

Examples

  • 玩意。
    Zhè wán yì yòng qǐ lái bú tài fāng biàn.
    This thing isn't very convenient to use.
  • 玩意。
    Tā gěi hái zi mǎi le yì duī xiǎo wán yì.
    He bought a bunch of little toys for the kids.
  • 玩意。
    Nà ge biǎo yǎn lǐ de wán yì hěn yǒu yì si.
    The acts in that show are very interesting.

Origin

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
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
元
元yuán玩wán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

玩 pairs 玉 (jade) with 元 (yuán) for sound. The jade part points to toys made of jade.

Open 玩 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 意 →
Appears in
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