Chinese word

冲动

Pronunciation

Pinyinchōng dòng

Meaning

  • adjectiveimpulsive

Example

他一时冲动，把话都说出来了。tā yì shí chōng dòng bǎ huà dōu shuō chū lái le

He acted on impulse and said everything.

Illustration for 冲动 (impulsive)

More examples

不要冲动行事，要先冷静分析。bú yào chōng dòng xíng shì yào xiān lěng jìng fēn xī

Don't act impulsively; analyze calmly first.

Core concept

A sudden inner rush pushes a person into action before thought catches up.

Common phrases

  • 冲动行事chōng dòng xíng shì

    act impulsively

  • 冲动消费chōng dòng xiāo fèi

    make impulse purchases

  • 冲动的人chōng dòng de rén

    impulsive person

Similar words

鲁莽lú mǎng: Careless about danger and consequences because of acting without enough thought.
轻率qīng shuài: Making decisions or taking action too quickly and without enough care.
任性rèn xìng: Insisting on doing what one wants while paying little attention to others' views.
急躁jí zào: Unable to wait calmly, and quick to feel worried or annoyed.

Definition in Chinese

表现为因一时的情绪或欲望而容易做出未经深思的行为或反应。biǎo xiàn wèi yīn yì shí de qíng xù huò yù wàng ér róng yì zuò chū wèi jīng shēn sī de xíng wéi huò fǎn yìng

Word origin

冲 (chōng, "rush forward") + 动 (dòng, "move") presents a force that rushes into movement, linking the word to action before reflection.

Usage tips

  • Chinese can use this word for both a person or action that lacks forethought and the urge behind it, so the surrounding grammar shows whether it describes behavior or names a feeling.

Other meanings

  • impulsenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 冲动性chōng dòng xìngimpulsivenessnoun
  • 冲动行为chōng dòng xíng wéiimpulsive behaviornoun
  • 冲动消费chōng dòng xiāo fèiimpulse buyingnoun

Word lists with this word