máozào: 毛躁 - Impetuous, Rash, Flustered

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• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of the essential Chinese adjective 毛躁 (máozào). This page explains how 毛躁 describes a person who is impetuous, rash, or flustered, often leading to careless mistakes. Discover its cultural significance, see practical examples of how to use máozào in conversation, and understand how it differs from simple clumsiness or impatience. This is your complete guide to mastering this common critique of character.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): máozào
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To be impetuous, rash, or flustered due to a lack of calmness and carefulness.
• In a Nutshell: 毛躁 (máozào) describes a state of being unsettled, impatient, and prone to making careless mistakes. Imagine someone who rushes into things without thinking, fumbles with objects because they're anxious, or can't sit still to focus on a task. It captures both the internal feeling of being jittery and the external actions that result from it—like being clumsy, hasty, or sloppy. It's the direct opposite of being calm, steady, and meticulous.

• 毛 (máo): This character means “hair,” “fur,” or “feather.” By extension, it can also mean “rough” or “unprocessed.” Think of frizzy, untamed hair that won't lie flat. This character provides the sense of something messy, disorderly, and not smooth.
• 躁 (zào): This character means “restless,” “irritable,” or “impatient.” The radical on the left is 足 (zú), which means “foot,” suggesting agitated movement or fidgeting.
• Together, 毛躁 (máozào) literally paints a picture of “frizzy and restless.” This vivid image of ruffled fur or messy hair is used to describe a person's inner state and actions: agitated, messy, and lacking smoothness or composure.

In Chinese culture, qualities like 稳重 (wěnzhòng - steady, mature) and 踏实 (tāshi - steadfast, down-to-earth) are highly valued. A person who is calm, patient, and meticulous is seen as reliable and mature. 毛躁 (máozào) is the antithesis of these virtues. Consequently, being called 毛躁 is a common form of constructive criticism, especially from an elder, teacher, or supervisor to a younger person. It's not just an insult; it's an observation that one lacks the maturity and composure needed to handle tasks properly. It implies that with more self-control and experience, this flaw can be overcome. A good Western comparison is the phrase “a bull in a china shop,” but with a focus on the internal state. While the “bull” is just inherently clumsy, a 毛躁 person is clumsy because they are too impatient and agitated to be careful. It's a critique of one's temperament (which can be improved) rather than an inherent lack of coordination. It highlights the cultural premium placed on inner calm and its outward manifestation in careful, deliberate action.

毛躁 (máozào) is a common adjective used in daily life to describe people, actions, and feelings. Its connotation is almost always negative.

• Describing a Personality Trait: It can be used to describe someone's general character. This is a fairly strong criticism.
  • e.g., 他这个人有点儿毛躁，不适合做精细的工作。 (Tā zhège rén yǒudiǎnr máozào, bù shìhé zuò jīngxì de gōngzuò.) - He's a bit of an impetuous person, not suited for detailed work.
• Critiquing a Specific Action: More commonly, it's used to comment on how someone is performing a task. This is less about their whole personality and more about their current state.
  • e.g., 你别这么毛躁，慢慢来，不然容易出错。 (Nǐ bié zhème máozào, màn man lái, bùrán róngyì chūcuò.) - Don't be so hasty, take your time, otherwise you'll easily make a mistake.
• Describing an Internal Feeling: It can also describe the subjective feeling of being flustered, jittery, or unable to calm down.
  • e.g., 明天就要考试了，我心里很毛躁，什么都看不进去。 (Míngtiān jiù yào kǎoshì le, wǒ xīnli hěn máozào, shénme dōu kàn bu jìnqù.) - The exam is tomorrow, I feel so antsy I can't study at all.
• Describing Physical Appearance (Less Common): In a more literal sense, it can describe frizzy or messy hair.
  • e.g., 我的头发很毛躁，很难打理。(Wǒ de tóufǎ hěn máozào, hěn nán dǎlǐ.) - My hair is very frizzy and hard to manage.

• Example 1:
  • 年轻人刚开始工作，做事毛躁一点儿很正常。
  • Pinyin: Niánqīng rén gāng kāishǐ gōngzuò, zuòshì máozào yīdiǎnr hěn zhèngcháng.
  • English: It's normal for young people to be a bit rash and careless when they first start working.
  • Analysis: This sentence softens the criticism. It frames being 毛躁 as a normal phase of inexperience that can be outgrown.
• Example 2:
  • 别着急，你越着急，心里越毛躁，事情就越做不好。
  • Pinyin: Bié zhāojí, nǐ yuè zhāojí, xīnli yuè máozào, shìqíng jiù yuè zuò bu hǎo.
  • English: Don't worry. The more anxious you are, the more flustered you'll feel, and the worse you'll do the job.
  • Analysis: This clearly links the external action (做不好) with the internal feeling of being 毛躁.
• Example 3:
  • 他开车很毛躁，总是突然加速或者急刹车。
  • Pinyin: Tā kāichē hěn máozào, zǒngshì túrán jiāsù huòzhě jí shāchē.
  • English: He's a very erratic driver; he's always accelerating suddenly or braking hard.
  • Analysis: Here, 毛躁 describes a pattern of impatient and unsteady actions. It means more than just “bad driving”; it describes the temperament behind it.
• Example 4:
  • 手术需要极大的耐心和精确，你这么毛躁的性格肯定不行。
  • Pinyin: Shǒushù xūyào jídà de nàixīn hé jīngquè, nǐ zhème máozào de xìnggé kěndìng bùxíng.
  • English: Surgery requires extreme patience and precision; your impetuous personality is definitely not cut out for it.
  • Analysis: This is a strong statement about someone's fundamental character (性格 xìnggé) being incompatible with a task.
• Example 5:
  • 我今天感觉很毛躁，一杯咖啡洒了两次。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān gǎnjué hěn máozào, yī bēi kāfēi sǎ le liǎng cì.
  • English: I feel really jittery and clumsy today; I've spilled my coffee twice.
  • Analysis: This shows self-awareness. The speaker identifies their internal state of being 毛躁 as the cause of their clumsy actions.
• Example 6:
  • 经理批评了他，说他的报告写得太毛躁，很多数据都有错误。
  • Pinyin: Jīnglǐ pīpíngle tā, shuō tā de bàogào xiě de tài máozào, hěnduō shùjù dōu yǒu cuòwù.
  • English: The manager criticized him, saying his report was written too hastily and carelessly, and many of the figures were wrong.
  • Analysis: Here, 毛躁 is used to describe the quality of work. It implies the errors are not from lack of knowledge, but from lack of care due to rushing.
• Example 7:
  • 做木工活儿，心一定得静下来，不能毛躁。
  • Pinyin: Zuò mùgōng huór, xīn yīdìng děi jìng xiàlái, bùnéng máozào.
  • English: When doing woodwork, your mind must be calm;