Chinese word

怪异

Pronunciation

Pinyinguài yì

Meaning

  • adjectivestrange

Example

他的表情很怪异。tā de biǎo qíng hěn guài yì

His expression is very strange.

Illustration for 怪异 (strange)

More examples

房间里弥漫着怪异的气氛。fáng jiān lǐ mí màn zhe guài yì de qì fēn

The room was filled with a strange atmosphere.

Core concept

An unusual appearance, sound, or setting that feels so out of place that it unsettles the observer.

Common phrases

  • 怪异的表情guài yì de biǎo qíng

    strange expression

  • 怪异的气氛guài yì de qì fēn

    strange atmosphere

  • 怪异现象guài yì xiàn xiàng

    strange phenomenon

Similar words

奇怪qí guài: Unusual in a way that feels puzzling, surprising, or out of keeping with what is normal.
离奇lí qí: So strange that an event or story seems almost unreal and leaves people amazed.
可怕kě pà: Making people feel strong fear because of a threatening or dangerous quality.

Definition in Chinese

表示人物表情、声音或环境等不合常规，显得奇异、让人感到惊讶或不安的形容词。biǎo shì rén wù biǎo qíng shēng yīn huò huán jìng děng bù hé cháng guī xiǎn de qí yì ràng rén gǎn dào jīng yà huò bù ān de xíng róng cí

Word origin

怪 (guài, "strange") combines with 异 (yì, "different") to mark a striking departure from what normally seems familiar.

Usage tips

  • In ordinary conversation about a person, this word can sound disapproving or alarmed, so its emotional force matters as much as its basic meaning.

Other meanings

  • bizarreadjective
  • offadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 怪异感guài yì gǎnsense of strangenessnoun
  • 怪异性guài yì xìngbizarrenessnoun

Word lists with this word