迟钝 (chí dùn) — slow (in thought or reaction); sluggish | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Describes slow thinking or reactions (a dull mind, a sluggish response), not slow movement — 慢 and 迟缓 cover physical slowness, while 蠢 implies foolishness rather than slowness.

adjective

slow (in thought or reaction)sluggish

Examples

迟钝，。
Tā fǎn yìng chí dùn, cháng cháng xū yào bié rén chóng fù yí biàn.
He is slow to react and often needs others to repeat themselves.
，迟钝。
Nián jì dà le, sī wéi biàn de chí dùn yì xiē.
As one gets older, one's thinking becomes a bit slower.
，迟钝。
Zhè zhī gǒu suī rán nián jì dà, dàn bìng bù chí dùn.
This dog, though old, is not sluggish at all.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

迟 and 钝 both describe slowness or dullness, so together they mean sluggish in thought or reaction.

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.

辶尺迟

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuòmotion

Sound part声符shēngfú

尺

尺chǐ迟chí

Same sound today

迟 pairs 辶, a walking sign, with 尺, used 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 鈍; 钝 is its simplified writing.

金屯鈍

Meaning part形符xíngfú

金金jīnmetal

Sound part声符shēngfú

屯

屯tún鈍dùn

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鈍 combines 金, metal, with 屯, a sound part.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Personality & Traits

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