无精打采

wú jīng dǎ cǎi

  • Meaning

    Literal

    -

    Usage

    To be in low spirits; to be listless

  • Connotation

    Negative

  • Usage Examples

    看他那无精打采的模样，肯定又挨骂了 | Kàn tā nà wújīngdǎcǎi de múyàng, kěndìng yòu áimà le
    Judging by his dejected appearance, he must have gotten scolded again
    [Source]

    我们在商店买衣服时，孩子们无精打采地跟在后面 | Wǒmen zài shāngdiàn mǎi yīfú shí, háizimen wújīngdǎcài de gēn zài hòumiàn
    The kids followed us listlessly as we shopped for clothes in the store
    [Source]

  • Equivalents

    English

    None

    Chinese

    无精打彩 (wú jīng dǎ cǎi)

    没精打采 (méi jīng dǎ cǎi)

  • Entry Notes

    This is an HSK chengyu

    Though 无精打彩 (wú jīng dǎ cǎi) is listed as a variation of this chengyu, the 现代汉语规范词典 (Xiàn Dài Guī Fàn Cí Diǎn dictionary) indicates that using it is unsuitable

  • Origin

    《红楼梦》(Hóng Lóu Mèng) by Qīng (清, 1644-1911) author 曹雪芹 (Cáo Xuěqín). Often translated in English as "A Dream of Red Mansions," 红楼梦 is one of China's four great classical novels

  • Story

    This chengyu is from a line in the work listed in the "Origin" section above

  • Citations and Helpful Resources

    • 汉语成语小词典 (hànyǔ chéngyǔ xiǎo cídiǎn)
    • 现代汉语规范词典 (xiàndài hànyǔ guīfàn cídiǎn)
    • 多功能成语词典 (duō gōngnéng chéngyǔ cídiǎn)
    • 汉语大词典 (hànyǔ dà cídiǎn)
    • ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary
    • Pleco Basic Chinese-English Dictionary
    • 百度百科[x]