露骨 (lù gǔ) — undisguised; barefaced; thinly veiled (of speech, behavior, or expression)

Definition

Refers to speech, criticism, or expression that is openly explicit with no attempt to hide its meaning. Carries a negative tone — too direct or shameless, unlike 隐晦 ('vague, implied') or 含蓄 ('restrained, subtle').

adjective
undisguisedbarefacedthinly veiled (of speech, behavior, or expression)

Examples

  • 露骨，。
    Tā de huà shuō dé hěn lù gǔ, ràng rén hěn bù shū fu.
    His words were very undisguised, making people quite uncomfortable.
  • 露骨，。
    Tā de pī píng tài lù gǔ le, yì diǎn miàn zi yě bù liú.
    His criticism was too undisguised; he didn't save any face.
  • 露骨。
    Zhè zhǒng lù gǔ de guǎng gào yǐn qǐ le gōng zhòng de bù mǎn.
    This kind of thinly veiled advertisement caused public dissatisfaction.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

露lùexpose
骨gǔbone

The idea of 露 (exposing) what is hidden, like 骨 (bones) showing through, gives barefacedness.

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
雨雨yǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
路
路lù露lù
Same sound today

露 pairs 雨, a rain-related meaning part, with 路, a sound part.

Open 露 →

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
肉肉ròu
Sound part声符shēngfú
冎
冎guǎ骨gǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The older form 冎 drew a bone; 肉, flesh, was added to make 骨.

Open 骨 →

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