脾气 (pí qi) — temper, disposition | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

脾气 focuses on how someone reacts emotionally day-to-day — especially quick anger or irritability. Compare 性格 (overall personality) and 气质 (vibe, presence); 脾气 is the one most often used for bad temper.

noun

temperdisposition

Measure word · 个

Examples

脾气。
Wǒ bà ba pí qi hěn hǎo.
My father has a very good temper.
，。
Tā ài fā pí qi, dà jiā dōu yǒu diǎn pà tā.
She gets angry easily; everyone is a bit afraid of her.
脾气，。
Nǐ pí qi bù hǎo, xiān xiū xi yí xià ba.
You're in a bad mood; take a rest first.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

脾píspleen

气qìvital energy

脾 gives the spleen and 气 gives vital energy, together meaning temperament.

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

⺼Written in full as肉ròuorgan

Sound part声符shēngfú

卑

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

脾 uses ⺼ (a form of 肉, organ) for the meaning and 卑 for the sound.

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

气米氣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

米米mǐrice

Sound part声符shēngfú

气

气qì氣qì

Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Appears in

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