Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== yóu shǒu hào xián: 游手好闲 - Idle, Loafing, Good-for-nothing ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** youshouhaoxian, yóu shǒu hào xián, 游手好闲, meaning of youshouhaoxian, Chinese idiom for lazy, idle and loafing around, good-for-nothing in Chinese, how to say loafer in Chinese, Chengyu for idleness. * **Summary:** The Chinese idiom (chengyu) **游手好闲 (yóu shǒu hào xián)** describes a person who is idle, loves leisure, and avoids work or responsibility. It paints a picture of someone who aimlessly loafs around, making no productive contribution. This term carries a strong negative connotation, reflecting cultural values of diligence and hard work, and is often used to criticize someone for being a lazy, good-for-nothing loafer. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** yóu shǒu hào xián * **Part of Speech:** Idiom (Chengyu) / Adjective * **HSK Level:** HSK 6 * **Concise Definition:** To wander about idly, loafing and avoiding any form of productive work. * **In a Nutshell:** This isn't just about taking a break or being relaxed. **游手好闲 (yóu shǒu hào xián)** is a four-character judgment against a person's character. It implies a chronic state of laziness and a lack of ambition. Someone described this way is seen as a "loafer" or a "slacker" who actively shirks their duties, often depending on others for support. It's a criticism of their lifestyle and their failure to contribute to their family or society. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **游 (yóu):** To wander, to roam, or to travel without a fixed destination. * **手 (shǒu):** Hand. In this context, it represents one's actions or labor. * **好 (hào):** To be fond of, to like, to have a hobby of. Note the fourth tone pronunciation, `hào`, which means "to like," not the third tone `hǎo`, which means "good." * **闲 (xián):** Idle, leisure, unoccupied. These characters combine to create a vivid image: "(someone whose) hands wander, and is fond of being idle." The hands are "wandering" because they aren't engaged in any purposeful work. The person's preference (`hào`) is for idleness (`xián`), not for productive activity. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In Chinese culture, heavily influenced by Confucian values, diligence (勤奋 qínfèn) and contributing to the collective (family or society) are held in high regard. Hard work is not just a means to an end; it's a moral virtue. Consequently, being **游手好闲** is seen as a significant character flaw. It signifies a failure to fulfill one's social and familial obligations. To draw a Western comparison, consider the concept of a "slacker" or a "bum." However, **游手好闲** often carries a heavier weight of familial disappointment. While a Western "free spirit" might be seen as choosing an alternative lifestyle, a person described as **游手好闲** is almost always viewed as a burden and a source of shame for their family, who are expected to support them. It directly opposes the ideal of the hardworking individual who strives for a better future for themselves and their kin. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== This term is frequently used in daily conversation, and its connotation is consistently negative and critical. * **Parental Scolding:** Parents often use this idiom to reprimand children (especially teenagers or young adults) who they feel are wasting their time instead of studying or finding a job. * **Gossip and Social Commentary:** People might use it to talk about a neighbor, relative, or acquaintance who doesn't work and lives off others. * **Describing Characters:** It's a common way to describe a lazy or morally corrupt character in a book, movie, or TV show. While it is used in informal conversation, it is a harsh criticism. You would not say this about someone unless you have a very negative opinion of their work ethic. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 他整天**游手好闲**，什么事都不做，全靠父母养着。 * Pinyin: Tā zhěng tiān **yóu shǒu hào xián**, shénme shì dōu bú zuò, quán kào fùmǔ yǎngzhe. * English: He's **idle and loafs around** all day, doesn't do anything, and completely relies on his parents to support him. * Analysis: This is a classic usage, criticizing a young adult for being unproductive and a financial burden on their family (a phenomenon related to the `啃老族 kěn lǎo zú`, or "NEET" generation). * **Example 2:** * 你不能再这样**游手好闲**下去了，必须找个工作！ * Pinyin: Nǐ bù néng zài zhèyàng **yóu shǒu hào xián** xiàqù le, bìxū zhǎo ge gōngzuò! * English: You can't go on **loafing around** like this anymore, you must find a job! * Analysis: A direct and forceful piece of advice or a command, likely from a parent, spouse, or concerned friend. The tone is one of urgency and disapproval. * **Example 3:** * 社区里有几个年轻人，整天**游手好闲**，惹是生非。 * Pinyin: Shèqū lǐ yǒu jǐ ge niánqīngrén, zhěng tiān **yóu shǒu hào xián**, rě shì shēng fēi. * English: There are a few young people in the neighborhood who are always **idling about** and stirring up trouble. * Analysis: Here, **游手好闲** is linked to causing trouble (`惹是生非`), reinforcing the idea that idleness leads to negative social consequences. * **Example 4:** * 电影里的那个反派角色就是一个**游手好闲**的二流子。 * Pinyin: Diànyǐng lǐ de nàge fǎnpài juésè jiùshì yí ge **yóu shǒu hào xián** de èrliúzi. * English: The villain in the movie is a **good-for-nothing** hoodlum. * Analysis: Used to describe a character type. `二流子 (èrliúzi)` is a slang term for a hooligan or bum, which pairs perfectly with **游手好闲**. * **Example 5:** * 自从失业后，他变得很消沉，每天在家**游手好闲**。 * Pinyin: Zìcóng shīyè hòu, tā biànde hěn xiāochén, měi tiān zài jiā **yóu shǒu hào xián**. * English: Ever since he lost his job, he's become very depressed, just **idling away** at home every day. * Analysis: This example shows that the state of being **游手好闲** can be a result of circumstances like unemployment, but it still describes the negative state of unproductive idleness. * **Example 6:** * 她嫁给了一个**游手好闲**的丈夫，日子过得很辛苦。 * Pinyin: Tā jià gěi le yí ge **yóu shǒu hào xián** de zhàngfu, rìzi guò de hěn xīnkǔ. * English: She married an **idle** husband and her life has been very hard. * Analysis: This highlights the direct negative impact of one person's idleness on their family. The husband's behavior causes hardship for his wife. * **Example 7:** * 我警告你，别跟那些**游手好闲**的人混在一起。 * Pinyin: Wǒ jǐnggào nǐ, bié gēn nàxiē **yóu shǒu hào xián** de rén hùn zài yìqǐ. * English: I'm warning you, don't hang out with those **good-for-nothing loafers**. * Analysis: This demonstrates how the term is used to label a group of people, marking them as a bad influence. * **Example 8:** * 与其在家**游手好闲**，不如去做点有意义的志愿工作。 * Pinyin: Yǔqí zài jiā **yóu shǒu hào xián**, bùrú qù zuò diǎn yǒu yìyì de zhìyuàn gōngzuò. * English: Rather than **sitting around idly** at home, it would be better to do some meaningful volunteer work. * Analysis: This sentence uses the term in a comparative structure (`与其...不如...`) to propose a positive alternative to idleness. * **Example 9:** * 他年轻时**游手好闲**，现在老了，非常后悔。 * Pinyin: Tā niánqīng shí **yóu shǒu hào xián**, xiànzài lǎo le, fēicháng hòuhuǐ. * English: He was **a loafer** when he was young, and now that he's old, he regrets it very much. * Analysis: This sentence frames **游手好闲** as a youthful mistake with long-term consequences, a common theme in cautionary tales. * **Example 10:** * 一个社会如果**游手好闲**的人太多，就会缺乏活力。 * Pinyin: Yí ge shèhuì rúguǒ **yóu shǒu hào xián** de rén tài duō, jiù huì quēfá huólì. * English: If a society has too many **idle people**, it will lack vitality. * Analysis: This elevates the concept from a personal failing to a societal problem, showing the term's use in a broader, more formal context. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Mistake 1: Confusing it with "Relaxing" or "Leisure".** * A common error is to use **游手好闲** to describe someone on vacation or taking a well-deserved break. This is incorrect. For relaxing, you should use words like `休息 (xiūxi)` (to rest) or `放松 (fàngsōng)` (to relax). **游手好闲** implies a chronic, blameworthy state of unproductivity, not temporary leisure. * **Mistake 2: Mispronouncing 好 (hǎo).** * In this idiom, a critical mistake is pronouncing 好 as `hǎo` (good). It must be pronounced `hào` (to be fond of). The structure `好 (hào) + Verb` means "to be fond of doing [verb]". So, `好闲 (hào xián)` means "to be fond of being idle." Pronouncing it `hǎo xián` would make no sense. * **"False Friend": "Laid-back".** * While a "laid-back" person in English might be relaxed and not overly ambitious, they are not necessarily lazy or irresponsible. The term can even be a compliment. **游手好闲**, on the other hand, is never a compliment. It is a direct criticism of someone's lack of work ethic and responsibility. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[好吃懒做]] (hào chī lǎn zuò) - A very close synonym. Literally "fond of eating, lazy at working." It emphasizes gluttony alongside laziness. * [[无所事事]] (wú suǒ shì shì) - A synonym meaning "to have nothing to do." It can be slightly more neutral, sometimes describing a state of temporary boredom rather than a permanent character flaw. * [[不务正业]] (bú wù zhèng yè) - A related concept meaning "to not engage in proper work." It often implies that the person is involved in shady or disreputable activities instead. * [[啃老族]] (kěn lǎo zú) - A modern slang term for adults who live off their parents ("NEETs"). Many people in the `啃老族` would be described as **游手好闲**. * [[懒惰]] (lǎnduò) - The general word for "lazy" or "indolent." **游手好闲** is a more vivid, descriptive, and critical idiom for this quality. * [[勤奋]] (qínfèn) - An antonym meaning "diligent" or "hardworking." This is the ideal state that **游手好闲** stands in direct opposition to. * [[游民]] (yóumín) - "Vagrant" or "drifter." This describes a person's social status, which may be a result of being **游手好闲**.