Chinese word

扫兴

Pronunciation

Pinyinsǎo xìng

Meaning

  • verbspoil the fun

Example

你的笑话让我扫兴了。nǐ de xiào huà ràng wǒ sǎo xìng le

Your joke spoiled the fun for me.

Illustration for 扫兴 (spoil the fun)

More examples

突然的冷场让大家都扫兴了。tū rán de léng chǎng ràng dà jiā dōu sǎo xìng le

The sudden awkward silence spoiled the fun for everyone.

Core concept

The rising energy of a gathering is swept away, leaving the room flat or awkward.

Common phrases

  • 令人扫兴lìng rén sǎo xìng

    disappointing

  • 让人扫兴ràng rén sǎo xìng

    spoil the fun

  • 扫兴透顶sǎo xìng tòu dǐng

    completely disappointing

Similar words

泼冷水pō léng shuǐ: Dampens enthusiasm with discouraging words or opinions, taking the energy out of a plan or activity.
冷场léng chǎng: Leaves a gathering quiet and awkward when conversation or response suddenly stops.
煞风景shā fēng jǐng: Spoils the mood or atmosphere by being out of place or ruining the feeling of a scene.

Definition in Chinese

使参加者或听众从愉快或期待的情绪中脱离，转为冷淡或尴尬的状态。shǐ cān jiā zhě huò tīng zhòng cóng yú kuài huò qī dài de qíng xù zhōng tuō lí zhuǎn wéi lěng dàn huò gān gà de zhuàng tài

Word origin

扫兴 (sǎoxìng, "to spoil the fun") is formed from 扫 (sǎo, "sweep away") and 兴 (xìng, "interest or enjoyment"), so the word presents lost enjoyment as something removed.

Usage tips

  • The verb works naturally for small social moments such as a badly timed comment, an unwanted announcement, or a joke that falls flat.

Other meanings

  • ruinverb

Opposites

  • 逗乐dòu lèamuseverb
  • 取悦qǔ yuèpleaseverb

Word lists with this word