铺张浪费 (pū zhāng làng fèi) — (verb phrase) to be extravagant and wasteful; (noun) extravagance and waste

Definition

A fixed phrase used as a verb or noun to condemn lavish spending on things that aren't needed. Carries a strongly negative moral judgment — not just 'expensive', but wasteful and improper.

verb
(verb phrase) to be extravagant and wasteful
noun
extravagance and waste

Examples

  • ，铺张浪费。
    Zhèng fǔ tí chàng jié yuē, fǎn duì pū zhāng làng fèi.
    The government advocates thrift and opposes extravagance and waste.
  • 铺张浪费，。
    Hūn lǐ bàn dé zhè me pū zhāng làng fèi, shí zài méi yǒu bì yào.
    Having such an extravagant wedding is really unnecessary.
  • 铺张浪费，。
    Qǐ yè bù néng pū zhāng làng fèi, yào hé lǐ lì yòng zī yuán.
    Enterprises must not be wasteful; they should use resources rationally.

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.

铺张extravagant
铺pùspread张zhāngdisplay
联合Side by side
浪费waste
浪làngdissipate费fèispend
联合Side by side

铺张 and 浪费 both convey excessive spending, giving extravagance and waste.

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 鋪; 铺 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīngold; metal
Sound part声符shēngfú
甫
甫fǔ鋪pū
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鋪 pairs 金 (gold; metal) with 甫 as a sound part; the simplified 铺 is a shorthand.

Open 铺 →

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 張; 张 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
弓弓gōngbow
Sound part声符shēngfú
長
長cháng張zhāng
Same sound today

The traditional form 張 combines 弓, a bow, with 長, which points to the sound; the simplified 张 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 张 →

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
水水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
良
良liáng浪làng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

浪 pairs 水 (water) with 良, which supplies the sound. The water part points to its meaning of waves.

Open 浪 →

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 費; 费 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèicowry
Sound part声符shēngfú
弗
弗fú費fèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 費 has 貝, a cowry shell, and 弗, which gives a sound; the simplified 费 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 费 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.