轻薄 (qīng bó) — frivolous, flippant (of behavior or attitude)

Definition

As an adjective, 轻薄 describes a frivolous, disrespectful attitude (often toward women) — more negative than simply 'casual', implying a lack of proper regard.

adjective
frivolousflippant (of behavior or attitude)

Examples

  • 轻薄，。
    Tā shuō huà zǒng shì hěn qīng bó, ràng rén bù shū fu.
    He always speaks frivolously, making people uncomfortable.
  • 轻薄。
    Zhè zhǒng qīng bó de tài dù zài gōng zuò zhōng shì bù hé shì de.
    This kind of flippant attitude is inappropriate at work.
  • 轻薄。
    Tā bù xǐ huan nà xiē qīng bó de nán rén.
    She doesn't like those frivolous men.

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.

轻qīnglight
薄báothin

轻 means light and 薄 means thin; together they describe behavior that is flippant and not serious.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 輕; 轻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng輕qīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輕 pairs 車, a carriage, with 巠 to give the sound; it originally named a light carriage. The simplified 轻 is only a later shorthand.

Open 轻 →

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
艹Written in full as艸cǎo
Sound part声符shēngfú
溥
溥pǔ薄báo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

薄 combines 艹, a grass part, with 溥 as the sound part.

Open 薄 →

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