爱管闲事
ài guǎn xián shì
The English word "nosy" is translated into Chinese as 爱管闲事 (ài guǎn xián shì).
The phrase is used to describe someone who is prying, inquisitive or curious in other’s affairs. Tending to snoop or meddle. It carries the meaning of loving to meddle in other people's business.
Meaning: prying, inquisitive or curious in other’s affairs, tending to snoop or meddle (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 爱 (love), 管 (to manage/control), 闲 (idle/leisure) and 事 (matters/affairs), which literally translates to "loves to manage idle matters".
Which one should you use?
While 爱管闲事 carries a negative connotation of meddling, 好奇 (hàoqí) is a more neutral or positive way to describe being curious.
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the phrase into a noun meaning "a nosy person", you add 人 (person) at the end to get 爱管闲事的人.
How do you pronounce it?
ài guǎn xián shì
Did you know?
- To describe a nosy person more colorfully, some speakers use 八卦 (bāguà), which refers to the eight trigrams of ancient divination. In modern slang, it is used as a verb meaning 'to gossip' or 'to pry'.
- In a humorous or sarcastic context, someone might describe themselves as 热心肠 (rè xīn cháng), meaning 'warm-hearted intestine'. While meant as a compliment, it is often used as a euphemism for someone who is actually 爱管闲事.
- The character 管 in 爱管闲事 means 'to manage', but it originally referred to a bamboo pipe. This evolution from a physical tube to the act of controlling or managing is a common linguistic shift in Chinese.
Examples in context
- 她老是多管闲事She is always nosy.
- 他真爱管闲事He is really nosy.
- 她对八卦特别热衷She is particularly nosy about gossip.
- 她老是问我的私事，真烦人!She always asks about my private matters, it's really annoying!
- 别再打听我了，你太爱管闲事了!Stop prying into my business, you're so nosy!
- 他这个人真爱管闲事。Tā zhège rén zhēn ài guǎn xiánshì.He is a real busybody.
- 爱管闲事的人总是让人烦恼。Ài guǎn xiánshì de rén zǒng shì ràng rén fánnǎo.Nosy people are always annoying.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a mutual acquaintance.
- 俊杰 Junjie那个邻居一直在问我的私事。Nàge línjū yìzhí zài wèn wǒ de sīshì.That neighbor keeps asking about my private life.
- 雨婷 Yuting是的，他确实很爱管闲事。Shì de, tā quèshí hěn àiguǎnxiánshì.Yes, he really is very nosy.
- 俊杰 Junjie我真的觉得很烦。Wǒ zhēnde juéde hěn fán.It's really annoying me.
- 雨婷 Yuting你直接告诉他不要管就好。Nǐ zhíjiē gàosù tā bùyào guǎn jiù hǎo.Just tell him directly to mind his own business.
