Chinese word

发脾气

Pronunciation

Pinyinfā pí qì

Meaning

  • verblose one's temper

Example

他总是发脾气，让人很难受。tā zǒng shì fā pí qì ràng rén hěn nán shòu

He always loses his temper, making people around him uncomfortable.

Illustration for 发脾气 (lose one's temper)

More examples

在公开场合发脾气会让人觉得不专业。zài gōng kāi chǎng hé fā pí qì huì ràng rén jué de bù zhuān yè

Losing one's temper in public can make people think you are unprofessional.

Core concept

A person lets anger spill out instead of keeping it inside, through voice, actions, or a withdrawn manner.

Common phrases

  • 对别人发脾气duì bié rén fā pí qì

    lose one's temper with others

  • 经常发脾气jīng cháng fā pí qì

    lose one's temper often

  • 孩子发脾气hái zi fā pí qì

    children throw tantrums

Similar words

生气shēng qì: Feeling anger or dissatisfaction inside.
发火fā huǒ: Suddenly becoming angry and responding with harsh words or behavior.
发怒fā nù: Suddenly expressing intense anger.

Definition in Chinese

因为不满或生气而当场表现出激烈情绪，通常通过喊叫、发火或冷漠等方式将情绪外露。yīn wèi bù mǎn huò shēng qì ér dāng chǎng biǎo xiàn chū jī liè qíng xù tōng cháng tōng guò hǎn jiào fā huǒ huò lěng mò děng fāng shì jiāng qíng xù wài lù

Word origin

发脾气 (fāpíqì, "to release one's temper") combines 发 (fā, "release") with 脾气 (píqì, "temper"), presenting anger as something let out.

Usage tips

  • English often separates feeling angry from showing anger, while this Chinese verb centers on the outward behavior that other people can notice.

Other meanings

  • get angryverb
  • throw a tantrumverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word