笨拙 (bèn zhuō) — clumsy; awkward | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

笨拙 describes clumsy movement, speech, or design — not intelligence. Unlike 笨 or 蠢, it doesn't mean 'stupid'; it focuses on physical or stylistic awkwardness.

adjective

clumsyawkward

Examples

笨拙。
Tā zǒu lù de yàng zi hěn bèn zhuō.
His way of walking is very clumsy.
笨拙，。
Tā shuō huà de fāng shì hěn bèn zhuō, zǒng shì zhǎo bú dào hé shì de cí.
His way of speaking is awkward; he always can't find the right words.
笨拙，。
Zhè ge jī qì shè jì dé hěn bèn zhuō, bù hǎo yòng.
This machine is clumsily designed and not easy to use.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

拙zhuōawkward

笨 gives the idea of clumsy, and 拙 gives the idea of awkward, together meaning clumsy.

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.

竹本笨

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

本

本běn笨bèn

Same sound today

笨 is made of 竹 and 本, where 本 gives the sound and 竹 is related to the meaning.

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

扌出拙

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

出

出chū拙zhuō

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

拙 has 扌 (手, hand) on the left and 出 on the right, which gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Personality & Traits

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