糊弄 (hù nong) — to fool, to deceive, to hoodwink (sometimes playfully); to do something carelessly, to muddle through, to do slipshod work

Definition

Colloquial verb covering two senses: to fool or tease someone (often playfully), and to do a task carelessly / muddle through. Both senses imply a casual, dismissive attitude rather than serious harm.

verb
to foolto deceiveto hoodwink (sometimes playfully)to do something carelesslyto muddle throughto do slipshod work

Examples

  • 糊弄，。
    Nǐ bié xiǎng hù nong wǒ, wǒ zhī dào zhēn xiàng.
    Don't think you can fool me — I know the truth.
  • 糊弄，。
    Tā zuò zuò yè zǒng shì hù nong, cóng lái bú rèn zhēn.
    He always does his homework carelessly, never taking it seriously.
  • 糊弄，。
    Tā shì zài hù nong nǐ wán ne, bié dàng zhēn.
    He's just kidding around with you — don't take it seriously.

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.

糊húmuddle
弄nòngplay

糊 (to muddle) and 弄 (to play) together suggest fooling someone or doing things carelessly.

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
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
胡
胡hú糊hú
Same sound today

糊 pairs 米 (rice) with 胡 (hú), which gives the sound. The 米 part relates to the meaning.

Open 糊 →

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

The form 弄 combines 玉 (jade) with 廾 (hands), showing hands touching or handling jade.

Open 弄 →

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