Chinese word

娇惯

Pronunciation

Pinyinjiāo guàn

Meaning

  • verbspoil

Example

别把孩子娇惯坏了。bié bǎ hái zi jiāo guàn huài le

Don't spoil the child.

Illustration for 娇惯 (spoil)

More examples

小时候被祖父母娇惯，长大后可能缺乏责任感。xiǎo shí hòu bèi zǔ fù mǔ jiāo guàn zhǎng dà hòu kě néng quē fá zé rèn gǎn

If children are spoiled by their grandparents when they are young, they may lack a sense of responsibility when they grow up.

Core concept

Repeated indulgence makes a child or pet expect special treatment and depend on others.

Common phrases

  • 祖父母常常娇惯孙子zǔ fù mǔ cháng cháng jiāo guàn sūn zi

    grandparents often spoil their grandchildren

  • 不要娇惯孩子的坏习惯bú yào jiāo guàn hái zi de huài xí guàn

    do not indulge children's bad habits

  • 被祖父母娇惯长大bèi zǔ fù mǔ jiāo guàn zhǎng dà

    grow up spoiled by grandparents

Similar words

溺爱nì ài: Giving a person more affection and indulgence than is good for that person.
宠爱chǒng ài: Treating someone with unusual affection and care because of a special fondness.
纵容zòng róng: Putting up with wrongdoing or selfish behavior instead of stopping it.
迁就qiān jiù: Giving in to another person's wishes by adjusting personal behavior or views.

Definition in Chinese

把孩子或宠物等过分地溺爱，使其养成任性或依赖的习惯。bǎ hái zi huò chǒng wù děng guò fèn dì nì ài shǐ qí yǎng chéng rèn xìng huò yī lài de xí guàn

Word origin

娇惯 (jiāoguàn, "to spoil") combines 娇 (jiāo, "pampered") with 惯 (guàn, "to indulge or become accustomed to"), linking affection with a lasting habit.

Usage tips

  • The verb usually describes a pattern of treatment, not one generous act, so it often carries a clear warning about the result.

Other meanings

  • dote onverb
  • pamperverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word