luōsuo: 啰嗦 - Long-winded, Wordy, Verbose

• Keywords: luosuo, luōsuo, 啰嗦, long-winded in Chinese, verbose in Chinese, Chinese word for nagging, what does luosuo mean, repetitive, wordy, how to say stop nagging in Chinese, 婆婆妈妈
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 啰嗦 (luōsuo), which means to be long-winded, verbose, or to nag. This HSK 4 term is perfect for describing someone who talks too much, repeats themselves, or gives overly detailed and annoying instructions. This guide will teach you its cultural nuances, how to use it in daily conversation, and how to distinguish it from similar words like “talkative.”

• Pinyin (with tone marks): luō·suo
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Verb
• HSK Level: 4
• Concise Definition: To be long-winded, wordy, and repetitive in speech; to nag.
• In a Nutshell: 啰嗦 (luōsuo) is the perfect word for when someone just won't get to the point. It describes speech that is overly detailed, repetitive, and often annoying. Think of a parent endlessly reminding you to wear a jacket, or a friend taking ten minutes to tell a one-minute story. The feeling behind 啰嗦 is a mix of impatience and annoyance at the excessive and often unnecessary words.

• 啰 (luō): This character is made of the “mouth” radical (口) on the left and a phonetic component (罗) on the right. The mouth radical strongly suggests that this character is related to speaking or making sounds. Here, it implies chattering or excessive talk.
• 嗦 (suo): This character also contains the “mouth” radical (口), again linking it to speech. The right side (索) primarily provides the sound.

The combination of two characters, both emphasizing the mouth and the act of speaking, creates a powerful image of non-stop talking, which perfectly captures the essence of being “long-winded” or “nagging.”

In Chinese culture, 啰嗦 (luōsuo) holds a special place, particularly within the family. While no one enjoys being nagged, the “啰嗦” of a parent or grandparent is often understood as an expression of deep care and concern. A mother who repeatedly tells her child to eat more, study harder, and wear warm clothes is being 啰嗦, but it stems from love. This creates a fascinating dual perception of the word. A useful comparison in Western culture is the concept of “nagging” or being a “broken record.” However, there's a subtle difference. “Nagging” in English is almost exclusively negative and implies pestering. 啰嗦, while still annoying, can sometimes be viewed with a degree of affectionate tolerance when it comes from a close elder. It reflects a cultural value where showing care, even through repetitive reminders, is a fundamental part of familial relationships. Outside of this family context, however, being 啰嗦 is seen just as negatively as in the West—as being inefficient, annoying, and wasting time.

啰嗦 (luōsuo) is an extremely common, informal term used in everyday conversation. You will hear it among friends, family, and colleagues in casual settings.

• As an Adjective: It is most often used as an adjective to describe a person or their speech.
  • `他这个人很啰嗦。 (Tā zhège rén hěn luōsuo.)` - “He is a very long-winded person.”
• As a Verb: It can also function as a verb, meaning “to be long-winded” or “to nag.”
  • `你别啰嗦了！ (Nǐ bié luōsuo le!)` - “Stop nagging!” or “Stop being so long-winded!”
• Connotation: The connotation is almost always negative, expressing frustration or impatience. However, the severity can range from a light-hearted tease between friends to a serious expression of annoyance. It is considered rude to call a superior or an elder 啰嗦 to their face, unless you have a very close, informal relationship.

• Example 1:
• 你怎么这么啰嗦？快点说重点！
• Pinyin: Nǐ zěnme zhème luōsuo? Kuài diǎn shuō zhòngdiǎn!
• English: Why are you so long-winded? Get to the point!
• Analysis: A common, direct, and impatient way to tell someone to stop talking so much. This is very informal.
• Example 2:
• 我妈妈每天都提醒我多穿衣服，她有点啰嗦，但是我知道她爱我。
• Pinyin: Wǒ māmā měitiān dū tíxǐng wǒ duō chuān yīfú, tā yǒudiǎn luōsuo, dànshì wǒ zhīdào tā ài wǒ.
• English: My mom reminds me to wear more clothes every day. She's a bit of a nag, but I know she loves me.
• Analysis: This sentence perfectly captures the cultural nuance of 啰嗦 within a family context—annoying but understood as an act of love.
• Example 3:
• 老师啰嗦了几句，强调了考试的注意事项。
• Pinyin: Lǎoshī luōsuo le jǐ jù, qiángdiào le kǎoshì de zhùyì shìxiàng.
• English: The teacher went on for a bit, emphasizing the important points for the exam.
• Analysis: Here, 啰嗦 is used as a verb. It implies the teacher repeated the points to ensure everyone understood, even if it felt a bit tedious.
• Example 4:
• 对不起，我可能有点啰嗦了，我们继续下一个话题吧。
• Pinyin: Duìbùqǐ, wǒ kěnéng yǒudiǎn luōsuo le, wǒmen jìxù xià yígè huàtí ba.
• English: Sorry, I might be getting a bit long-winded. Let's move on to the next topic.
• Analysis: A great example of self-deprecation. The speaker acknowledges they've been talking too much.
• Example 5:
• 这份说明书太啰嗦了，看了半天也没看懂。
• Pinyin: Zhè fèn shuōmíngshū tài luōsuo le, kànle bàntiān yě méi kàn dǒng.
• English: This instruction manual is too verbose; I've been reading it for ages and still don't get it.
• Analysis: This shows that 啰嗦 can describe not just a person, but also text or explanations that are unnecessarily long and complicated.
• Example 6:
• 你别啰嗦了，我自己的事自己知道怎么做。
• Pinyin: Nǐ bié luōsuo le, wǒ zìjǐ de shì zìjǐ zhīdào zěnme zuò.
• English: Stop nagging, I know how to handle my own affairs.
• Analysis: A forceful way to reject unsolicited and repetitive advice, often used by a younger person towards an older one.
• Example 7:
• 他一喝酒就变得特别啰嗦，同样的故事能讲一个晚上。
• Pinyin: Tā yī hējiǔ jiù biànde tèbié luōsuo, tóngyàng de gùshì néng jiǎng yīgè wǎnshàng.
• English: As soon as he drinks, he gets really long-winded; he can tell the same story all night.
• Analysis: A complaint about someone's habit. It highlights the repetitive nature of 啰嗦.
• Example 8:
• 长话短说，我不啰嗦了，结论就是我们必须马上行动。
• Pinyin: Chánghuàduǎnshuō, wǒ bù luōsuo le, jiélùn jiùshì wǒmen bìxū mǎshàng xíngdòng.
• English: To make a long story short, I won't be long-winded; the conclusion is that we must act immediately.
• Analysis: This shows how a speaker can use the word to signal that they are intentionally being concise.
• Example 9:
• 我男朋友最受不了我啰嗦。
• Pinyin: Wǒ nánpéngyǒu zuì shòu bùliǎo wǒ luōsuo.
• English: My boyfriend can't stand it when I nag.
• Analysis: A common relationship dynamic. Here 啰嗦 is used as a verb, equivalent to “nagging.”
• Example 10:
• 他是不是很啰嗦？他每次开会都说很多废话。
• Pinyin: Tā shì bùshì hěn luōsuo? Tā měi cì kāihuì dōu shuō hěnduō fèihuà.
• English: Is he very long-winded? He talks a lot of nonsense at every meeting.
• Analysis: A question used to seek agreement from someone else about a third person's wordiness.

• 啰嗦 (luōsuo) vs. 话多 (huàduō): This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
  • 话多 (huàduō) simply means “talkative.” It can be neutral or even positive (e.g., an outgoing, talkative person is `话多`).
  • 啰嗦 (luōsuo) is negative. It implies the content of the talk is repetitive, tedious, and annoying.
  • Example: A great storyteller is `话多`, but not `啰嗦`. A person who repeats the same boring point five times is `啰嗦`.
• Formality: 啰嗦 (luōsuo) is an informal word. Using it to describe your boss, a client, or a respected elder in a formal context would be very inappropriate and disrespectful. Stick to using it with people you know well.
• False Friend: “Verbose”: While “verbose” is a good translation, it's often used in English to describe writing style in a more formal or academic way (e.g., “a verbose academic paper”). 啰嗦 is almost always used in spoken, everyday contexts and carries a stronger emotional charge of annoyance or impatience.

• 话多 (huàduō) - Talkative. Describes the quantity of speech, not necessarily the quality. Can be neutral.
• 唠叨 (láodao) - To nag; to chatter away. A very close synonym for 啰嗦 and often used interchangeably.
• 简洁 (jiǎnjié) - Concise; succinct. The direct antonym of 啰嗦.
• 废话 (fèihuà) - Nonsense; rubbish; superfluous words. A person who is 啰嗦 often says a lot of 废话.
• 婆婆妈妈 (pópomāmā) - An idiom meaning “fussy,” “indecisive,” and “long-winded,” like a stereotypical mother-in-law or mother. It carries a stronger sense of fussiness than 啰嗦 and is often used to criticize men for being indecisive.
• 絮叨 (xùdao) - To chatter on and on; to nag. Another synonym for 啰嗦, perhaps slightly more literary or gentle in tone.
• 言简意赅 (yánjiǎnyìgāi) - An idiom meaning “concise and to the point.” The ideal quality that someone who is 啰嗦 lacks.