====== fúzào: 浮躁 - Impetuous, Fickle, Restless ======
===== Quick Summary =====
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  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **浮躁 (fúzào)**, a crucial Chinese term describing a state of being impetuous, restless, and unable to focus. This page explores why **fúzào** is more than just "impatience"; it's a deeply cultural concept reflecting a lack of substance and a flighty state of mind, often used to critique modern society's obsession with quick success. Learn how to use it correctly in conversation and understand its significance in Chinese thought.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** fúzào
  * **Part of Speech:** Adjective
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 6
  * **Concise Definition:** Describes a state of being impetuous, restless, and unable to settle down or focus, often with a connotation of being superficial.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine a cork bobbing on choppy water—it's unstable, goes wherever the current pushes it, and has no depth. That's the feeling of **浮躁 (fúzào)**. It's not just about physical restlessness; it's a mental and emotional state of being flighty, impatient, and chasing the next shiny object without deep thought or commitment. It's the direct opposite of being grounded, calm, and steadfast.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **浮 (fú):** This character means "to float," "superficial," or "unstable." It's composed of the water radical (氵) on the left and a phonetic component on the right. The character vividly paints a picture of something lacking weight or substance, just floating on the surface.
  * **躁 (zào):** This character means "impatient," "restless," or "agitated." It features the foot radical (足) on the left, suggesting restless movement, and a component on the right that implies noise or commotion. It points to a frenetic, agitated energy.
When combined, **浮躁 (fúzào)** literally means "floating and restless." The image is powerful: a person or even a society that is ungrounded, easily agitated, and lacks the calm stability needed for deep achievement.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, **浮躁 (fúzào)** is a significant and often sharp criticism. Traditional values, influenced by Confucianism and Taoism, place a high premium on patience (耐心 nàixīn), perseverance (毅力 yìlì), and being down-to-earth (踏实 tāshi). A person who is calm, focused, and works steadily towards a goal is highly respected.
**浮躁 (fúzào)** is the antithesis of these virtues. It's seen as a character flaw that prevents true success and self-cultivation. In modern China, the term is frequently used to critique societal trends. The rapid economic development has created what many call a "浮躁的社会 (fúzào de shèhuì)"—an impetuous society where people are obsessed with "get-rich-quick" schemes, instant fame, and superficial trends, rather than craftsmanship and long-term dedication.
**Comparison to Western Culture:**
While you might translate **浮躁** as "fickle," "impetuous," or having a "short attention span," these English terms don't carry the same moral weight. In the West, being "restless" can sometimes be framed positively, as a sign of ambition or a desire for new experiences. In contrast, being labeled **浮躁** in a Chinese context is almost always negative. It implies you lack the seriousness, depth, and stability required to be a reliable and respectable person. It's a critique not just of your behavior, but of your inner state and character.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**浮躁** is a common word used in a variety of contexts, almost always with a negative connotation.
  * **Describing a Person's Character:** This is the most common usage. It's a criticism of someone who can't stick with anything—be it a job, a hobby, or a relationship.
    * //e.g., "He's job-hopped three times this year; he's just too impetuous."//
  * **Describing an Internal Feeling:** You can use it to describe your own state of mind when you feel unsettled, anxious, and unable to concentrate on a task.
    * //e.g., "With the exam coming up, I'm feeling very restless and can't seem to study."//
  * **Describing a Social Atmosphere:** As mentioned above, it's often used to describe the general mood of an era, an industry, or society as a whole.
    * //e.g., "The current social atmosphere is too impetuous; everyone wants instant success."//
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 现在的年轻人想法很多，但有时候有点儿**浮躁**，不够踏实。
    * Pinyin: Xiànzài de niánqīngrén xiǎngfǎ hěn duō, dàn yǒu shíhòu yǒudiǎnr **fúzào**, búgòu tāshi.
    * English: Young people today have a lot of ideas, but sometimes they are a bit impetuous and not grounded enough.
    * Analysis: This is a classic comment an older person might make about the younger generation. It directly contrasts **浮躁 (fúzào)** with its antonym, 踏实 (tāshi), meaning "down-to-earth" or "steadfast."
  * **Example 2:**
    * 天气太热了，我心里很**浮躁**，看不进去书。
    * Pinyin: Tiānqì tài rè le, wǒ xīnli hěn **fúzào**, kàn bu jìnqù shū.
    * English: The weather is too hot; I feel very restless and can't focus on my book.
    * Analysis: Here, **浮躁** describes a temporary internal state. The feeling of being agitated and unable to concentrate is directly linked to an external cause (the heat).
  * **Example 3:**
    * 做学问要静下心来，不能太**浮躁**。
    * Pinyin: Zuò xuéwèn yào jìng xià xīn lái, bùnéng tài **fúzào**.
    * English: To do academic research, you must quiet your mind and not be too impetuous.
    * Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the need for a calm, steady mind (静下心来) for deep, meaningful work, positioning **浮躁** as the primary obstacle.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 他被这个**浮躁**的社会影响，总想着一夜暴富。
    * Pinyin: Tā bèi zhège **fúzào** de shèhuì yǐngxiǎng, zǒng xiǎngzhe yí yè bàofù.
    * English: Influenced by this impetuous society, he's always thinking about getting rich overnight.
    * Analysis: This shows how **浮躁** can be used to describe a collective atmosphere. "Getting rich overnight" (一夜暴富) is a classic symptom of a **浮躁** mindset.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 领导批评他做事**浮躁**，细节上错漏百出。
    * Pinyin: Lǐngdǎo pīpíng tā zuòshì **fúzào**, xìjié shàng cuòlòu bǎichū.
    * English: The boss criticized him for being impetuous in his work, resulting in numerous errors in the details.
    * Analysis: This example links **浮躁** directly to poor performance. The lack of a calm, focused approach leads to careless mistakes.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 别那么**浮躁**，先踏踏实实地把基础打好。
    * Pinyin: Bié nàme **fúzào**, xiān tātāshíshí de bǎ jīchǔ dǎ hǎo.
    * English: Don't be so impetuous; first, build a solid foundation in a down-to-earth way.
    * Analysis: This is common advice given to a learner or a junior employee. It highlights the cultural value of building skills slowly and carefully.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 他的文章风格**浮躁**，辞藻华丽但缺乏思想深度。
    * Pinyin: Tā de wénzhāng fēnggé **fúzào**, cízǎo huálì dàn quēfá sīxiǎng shēndù.
    * English: His writing style is superficial; the language is ornate but lacks intellectual depth.
    * Analysis: **浮躁** can also describe creative work. It implies a focus on surface-level flashiness over genuine substance.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 我最近感到内心很**浮躁**，也许我应该去旅行，让自己平静下来。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ zuìjìn gǎndào nèixīn hěn **fúzào**, yěxǔ wǒ yīnggāi qù lǚxíng, ràng zìjǐ píngjìng xiàlái.
    * English: I've been feeling very unsettled inside lately; maybe I should go traveling to calm myself down.
    * Analysis: This shows self-awareness of the state of being **浮躁**. The speaker recognizes it as a negative state that needs a remedy (calming down).
  * **Example 9:**
    * 在这个充满诱惑的行业里，保持不**浮躁**的心态很重要。
    * Pinyin: Zài zhège chōngmǎn yòuhuò de hángyè lǐ, bǎochí bù **fúzào** de xīntài hěn zhòngyào.
    * English: In this industry full of temptations, it's very important to maintain a mindset that isn't fickle.
    * Analysis: This highlights **浮躁** as a response to external pressures and temptations. The ability to resist them and stay grounded is presented as a valuable skill.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 戒骄戒**躁**是每个成功人士必备的品质。
    * Pinyin: Jiè jiāo jiè **zào** shì měi ge chénggōng rénshì bìbèi de pǐnzhì.
    * English: Guarding against arrogance and impetuousness is a necessary quality for every successful person.
    * Analysis: Here, **躁 (zào)** is used in a common four-character phrase, "戒骄戒躁" (guard against arrogance and impetuousness). It's a well-known maxim emphasizing humility and stability.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Mistake 1: Confusing it with simple impatience.**
    * **浮躁** is not just about wanting something to happen quickly. A person waiting impatiently for a bus is not necessarily **浮躁**. **浮躁** implies a deeper character trait of being unstable, superficial, and unable to commit to a task that requires patience and focus.
  * **False Friend: "Restless."**
    * While "restless" is a part of the meaning, it's a weaker translation. In English, saying "I feel restless" can be a neutral observation. However, saying "我心里很浮躁 (wǒ xīnli hěn fúzào)" is a self-criticism. It identifies a negative internal state that you feel you should overcome.
  * **Incorrect Usage Example:**
    * //WRONG:// 我很**浮躁**地等待周末的派对！ (Wǒ hěn **fúzào** de děngdài zhōumò de pàiduì!)
    * //(I'm impetuously waiting for the weekend party!)//
    * **Why it's wrong:** **浮躁** is negative. For positive anticipation or excitement, you should use words like **激动 (jīdòng - excited)** or the idiom **迫不及待 (pòbùjídài - can't wait)**.
    * //CORRECT:// 我迫不及待地等待周末的派对！ (Wǒ pòbùjídài de děngdài zhōumò de pàiduì!)
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[踏实]] (tāshi) - The direct antonym. Describes someone who is grounded, down-to-earth, reliable, and steadfast.
  * [[沉稳]] (chénwěn) - A strong antonym. Describes a personality that is calm, steady, and composed, especially under pressure.
  * [[耐心]] (nàixīn) - Patience. A key virtue that a **浮躁** person lacks.
  * [[急躁]] (jízào) - Impatient, irritable. Similar to **浮躁**, but **急躁** focuses more on a hot-tempered, urgent emotional reaction, while **浮躁** describes a deeper state of being flighty and superficial.
  * [[心神不宁]] (xīnshénbùníng) - An idiom meaning "to feel distracted and uneasy." It's a perfect description of the //feeling// of being in a **浮躁** state.
  * [[静心]] (jìngxīn) - To quiet one's mind. This is the action or practice one undertakes to combat the state of **浮躁**.
  * [[急功近利]] (jígōngjìnlì) - An idiom: "eager for quick success and instant benefit." This is the typical motivation and behavior of a **浮躁** person or society.
  * [[毛躁]] (máozào) - Rash, careless, clumsy. This term is related but focuses more on the careless //actions// that result from a restless state, rather than the state itself.