怪人
guàirén
The Chinese word for "weirdo" is 怪人 (guàirén).
怪人 is used to refer to a weirdo or an odd person. While it can be used to describe someone with eccentric hobbies, it is often used to describe someone whose behavior is socially unsettling or creepy.
Meaning: strange person (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 怪 (guài), meaning strange or weird and 人 (rén), meaning person.
How do you pronounce it?
guàirén
Did you know?
- The word 怪 (guài) also means 'to blame'. This creates a linguistic overlap where 'it is weird' and 'it is someone's fault' can share the same character.
- In some contexts, 怪 (guài) can function as an adverb meaning 'quite' or 'rather'. A learner might hear 怪好的 (guài hǎo de) and think it means 'weirdly good', but it actually just means 'quite good'.
- The character 怪 (guài) is also used to describe the supernatural. Words for 'monsters' or 'demons' often share this same root, linking the idea of a 'weirdo' to the otherworldly.
Examples in context
- 我不是一个怪人。I'm not a weirdo.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of 怪人.Tatoeba #1372548 by sadhen, translation #3818617 by CK
- 你看那个人，怎么这么怪啊？Look at that person, why are they so weird?
- 哈哈，他确实是个奇葩。Haha, he is indeed a weirdo.
- 对啊，真是个怪人。Yeah, they are a weirdo.
- 别理那个怪人。Bié lǐ nàge guàirén.Don't pay attention to that weirdo.
Example conversation
Two friends are observing a man acting strangely in a park.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你看，那个人真是个怪人。Nǐ kàn, nàge rén zhēnshì ge guàirén.Look, that person is such a weirdo.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen他一直在对着树说话。Tā yīzhí zài duìzhe shù shuōhuà.He keeps talking to the trees.
- 志强 Zhiqiang我们快走吧，别管这个怪人。Wǒmen kuài zǒu ba, bié guǎn zhège guàirén.Let's leave quickly, don't mind this weirdo.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好，我也觉得有点奇怪。Hǎo, wǒ yě juéde yǒudiǎn qíguài.Okay, I also find it a bit strange.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “weirdo” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
