废话
fèihuà
The English phrase 'crap' can be expressed in Chinese as 废话 (fèihuà), depending on the context.
While the English word 'crap' can refer to physical objects of poor quality, 废话 is specifically used to describe spoken nonsense, empty talk or things someone says that are useless or untrue.
Meaning: something of poor quality (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 废话 literally translates to 'wasteful words' or 'useless talk'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, the informal term 玩意儿 can be used to convey the meaning of crap when referring to a thing.
How do you pronounce it?
fèihuà
Did you know?
- In Chinese, the concept of 'waste' in 废话 is linked to the character 废, which can also mean to abolish a law or to depose an emperor.
- To accuse someone of talking 'crap' in a more aggressive way, speakers might use the term 胡说八道, which literally mentions the number eight.
- The phrase 废话 is often used as a one-word rhetorical reply meaning 'obviously' or 'no duh' when someone states a fact that is already common knowledge.
Examples in context
- 这个产品真是垃圾！This product is really crap!
- 糟糕，我把文件弄丢了！Crap, I lost the documents!
- 这部电影真是狗屎不值得看！This movie is dog shit, not worth watching!
- 这个手机真是个烂玩意儿！This phone is a crappy thing!
- 他说的全是废话。Tā shuō de quán shì fèihuà.Everything he says is crap.
- 别听他的废话。Bié tīng tā de fèihuà.Don't listen to his crap.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are arguing during a meeting.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你刚才说的全是废话。Nǐ gāngcái shuō de quán shì fèihuà.Everything you just said was crap.
- 梓涵 Zihan我是在认真讨论问题。Wǒ shì zài rènzhēn tǎolùn wèntí.I am seriously discussing the problem.
- 志强 Zhiqiang这些建议完全没用。Zhèxiē jiànyì wánquán méiyòng.These suggestions are completely useless.
- 梓涵 Zihan志强，你太没礼貌了。Zhìqiáng, nǐ tài méi lǐmào le.Zhiqiang, you are being too rude.
