等闲之辈 (děng xián zhī bèi) — (set phrase, used in the negative) not an ordinary person; not to be underestimated

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'no ordinary person' — always used in the negative (不是…, 并非…, 绝非…) to praise someone as exceptional. Literally 'person of idle/ordinary status'.

idiom
(set phrase, used in the negative) not an ordinary personnot to be underestimated

Examples

  • 等闲之辈，。
    Cǐ rén jué fēi děng xián zhī bèi, nǐ yào xiǎo xīn yìng duì.
    This person is by no means an ordinary one — you should deal with him carefully.
  • ，等闲之辈。
    Néng zài zhè ge lǐng yù qǔ dé rú cǐ chéng jiù de, dōu bú shì děng xián zhī bèi.
    Those who can achieve so much in this field are no ordinary people.
  • ，等闲之辈。
    Tā néng zài guó jì bǐ sài zhōng duó guàn, guǒ rán bú shì děng xián zhī bèi.
    He was able to win the championship in an international competition — indeed, he's no ordinary person.

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
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
寺
寺sì等děng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The top 竹 shows bamboo strips used for writing and sorting; the bottom 寺 once gave the sound, but now sounds different.

Open 等 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 閒; 闲 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 閒 puts 月 (moon) inside 門 (door), as if moonlight peeks through a door; this picture gives the idea of a gap or space. The simplified 闲 is a later abbreviation.

Open 闲 →

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

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

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 輩; 辈 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jū
Sound part声符shēngfú
非
非fēi輩bèi
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輩 pairs 車 (vehicle) with 非, which gives the sound; this describes 輩, not the simplified 辈.

Open 辈 →

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