陋习 (lòu xí) — bad habit (personal); corrupt custom (societal)

Definition

陋习 means a 'bad habit' or 'corrupt custom' — closer to an entrenched social or personal vice than a routine habit. Often paired with 改掉/戒掉 (kick, get rid of).

noun
bad habit (personal)corrupt custom (societal)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 陋习。
    Tā jiè diào le xī yān de lòu xí.
    He kicked his smoking habit.
  • 陋习。
    Zhè zhǒng lòu xí zài xiàn dài shè huì yǐ jīng hěn shǎo jiàn le.
    This kind of corrupt custom is already rarely seen in modern society.
  • 陋习。
    Wǒ men yīng gāi nǔ lì gǎi diào zhè zhǒng lòu xí.
    We should try our best to get rid of this bad habit.

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.

陋lòubad
习xíhabit

陋 (bad, crude) combines with 习 (habit) to mean a bad habit or corrupt custom.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 習; 习 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 習 pairs 羽 (wings) with 日 (sun), showing a bird learning to fly; the simplified 习 is a later shorthand.

Open 习 →

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