Chinese word

幼稚

Pronunciation

Pinyinyòu zhì

Meaning

  • adjectivechildish

Example

他的想法太幼稚，不够成熟。tā de xiáng fǎ tài yòu zhì bú gòu chéng shú

His idea is too childish and not mature enough.

Illustration for 幼稚 (childish)

More examples

她在争论中说话很幼稚，被对方反驳了。tā zài zhēng lùn zhōng shuō huà hěn yòu zhì bèi duì fāng fǎn bó le

She talked childishly during the argument and was refuted by her opponent.

Core concept

A small frame of judgment that cannot yet hold the whole problem.

Common phrases

  • 说话很幼稚shuō huà hěn yòu zhì

    talk childishly

  • 幼稚的行为yòu zhì de xíng wéi

    childish conduct

Similar words

孩子气hái zi qì: Childlike behavior or changeable emotional expression.
天真tiān zhēn: An innocent, open attitude that trusts easily and shows little suspicion.
不够成熟bú gòu chéng shú: Immature thinking or behavior that falls short of adult standards in judgment and response.

Definition in Chinese

心智或处理问题的方式不够成熟，常停留在表面，缺少周全的考虑。xīn zhì huò chú lǐ wèn tí de fāng shì bú gòu chéng shú cháng tíng liú zài biǎo miàn quē shǎo zhōu quán de kǎo lǜ

Word origin

The two characters in 幼稚 (yòuzhì, "childish") both evoke youth, making their combination a compact image of thinking that remains young and incomplete.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this adjective can sound personal when aimed at someone, so criticism is often softened by naming the idea or approach instead.

Other meanings

  • immatureadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 幼稚性yòu zhì xìngchildishnessnoun
  • 幼稚病yòu zhì bìngchildish flawnoun

Word lists with this word