Chinese word

单薄

Pronunciation

Pinyindān bó

Meaning

  • adjectiveflimsy

Example

他的论据很单薄，让人不信服。tā de lùn jù hěn dān bó ràng rén bú xìn fú

His argument is very flimsy, so it is unconvincing.

Illustration for 单薄 (flimsy)

More examples

面试中，他的单薄履历未能说明他的能力。miàn shì zhōng tā de dān bó lǚ lì wèi néng shuō míng tā de néng lì

During the interview, his scanty resume failed to show his abilities.

Core concept

A thin outer layer or weak inner structure that makes something seem easily affected, incomplete, or without much substance.

Common phrases

  • 单薄的论述dān bó de lùn shù

    flimsy argument

  • 单薄的履历dān bó de lǚ lì

    scanty resume

  • 单薄的证词dān bó de zhèng cí

    flimsy testimony

Similar words

薄弱bó ruò: Having too little strength, evidence, or support to provide confidence or a firm basis.
肤浅fū qiǎn: Concerned only with surface ideas or knowledge, without reaching the heart of a matter.
贫乏pín fá: Having few resources or little content, richness, or depth.
空洞kōng dòng: Containing little real meaning, leaving outward form or language hollow and powerless.

Definition in Chinese

形容事物或人表现出薄弱、不充实或缺乏份量的特性，使人感到脆弱或空洞。xíng róng shì wù huò rén biǎo xiàn chū bó ruò bù chōng shí huò quē fá fèn liàng de tè xìng shǐ rén gǎn dào cuì ruò huò kōng dòng

Word origin

单薄 (dānbó, "thin and insubstantial") joins 单 (dān, "simple or single") and 薄 (báo, "thin"), a combination that extends physical thinness to sparse content and weak support.

Usage tips

  • This adjective is useful for understanding criticism of an explanation or argument because it focuses on missing support or detail rather than simply saying that the speaker is wrong.

Other meanings

  • frailadjective
  • scantyadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word