讨厌鬼
tǎoyànguǐ
The English phrase "meanie" is translated into Chinese as 讨厌鬼 (tǎoyànguǐ).
讨厌鬼 is used to describe an unkind person. It is frequently used by children or between close friends to express lighthearted annoyance or to tease someone for being unkind.
Meaning: unkind person (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
讨厌鬼 is an informal term. Another informal term for "meanie" is 坏蛋.
How do you pronounce it?
tǎoyànguǐ
Did you know?
- In romantic relationships, 讨厌鬼 is often used as a term of endearment. It functions as a flirtatious way to call a partner 'annoying' or 'a meanie' without actually being insulting.
- The term 坏蛋 (huàidàn), mentioned as another version of 'meanie', literally translates to 'bad egg'. This uses the metaphor of an egg that has gone rotten to describe a person's character.
- Using 鬼 as a suffix for people is a widespread pattern in Chinese. For example, a 'clever person' is called a 聪明鬼, literally a 'smart ghost'.
Examples in context
- 别再跟他玩了，他是个坏蛋。Stop playing with him, he's a meanie.
- 你真是个讨厌鬼。Nǐ zhēn shì gè tǎoyàn guǐ.You are such a meanie.
- 那个讨厌鬼不理我。Nàge tǎoyàn guǐ bù lǐ wǒ.That meanie is ignoring me.
- 别当个讨厌鬼。Bié dāng gè tǎoyàn guǐ.Don't be a meanie.
Example conversation
Zihan and Junjie are teasing each other during a game.
- 梓涵 Zihan你抢我的球，你真是个讨厌鬼！Nǐ qiǎng wǒ de qiú, nǐ zhēn shì gè tǎoyàn guǐ!You stole my ball, you are such a meanie!
- 俊杰 Junjie我没有抢，是我赢了。Wǒ méiyǒu qiǎng, shì wǒ yíng le.I didn't steal it, I won.
- 梓涵 Zihan你还是个讨厌鬼。Nǐ háishì gè tǎoyàn guǐ.You're still a meanie.
- 俊杰 Junjie好吧，对不起，梓涵。Hǎo ba, duìbùqǐ, Zǐhán.Alright, I'm sorry, Zihan.
