Chinese word

敷衍

Pronunciation

Pinyinfū yǎn

Meaning

  • verbcut corners

Example

考试不能敷衍，要认真准备。kǎo shì bù néng fū yǎn yào rèn zhēn zhǔn bèi

You can't cut corners on exams; you have to prepare seriously.

Illustration for 敷衍 (cut corners)

More examples

家长不应该对孩子的教育敷衍。jiā zhǎng bù yīng gāi duì hái zi de jiào yù fū yǎn

Parents should not handle their children's education perfunctorily.

Core concept

A task is stretched over just enough surface effort to look done, while its real purpose is left largely untouched.

Common phrases

  • 敷衍应付fū yǎn yìng fù

    handle perfunctorily

  • 敷衍了事fū yán liǎo shì

    go through the motions

Similar words

应付yìng fù: Handling a task casually, with just enough effort to get by.
糊弄hù nòng: Fooling someone with a careless, superficial response instead of dealing with the matter seriously.
搪塞táng sè: Dodging a question or problem with a vague reply instead of giving a clear answer.

Definition in Chinese

以最低限度的努力或只是象征性地完成某件事，重形式轻实质。yǐ zuì dī xiàn dù de nǔ lì huò zhǐ shì xiàng zhēng xìng dì wán chéng mǒu jiàn shì zhòng xíng shì qīng shí zhì

Word origin

The components 敷 (fū, "spread") + 衍 (yǎn, "extend") point to spreading something out, a sense that developed into filling out a task or answer without much substance.

Usage tips

  • The word often describes interpersonal behavior, especially a reply that closes a conversation without engaging with the issue, which makes it useful for recognizing criticism in casual speech.

Other meanings

  • handle casuallyverb
  • be perfunctoryverb
  • go through the motionsverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 敷衍塞责fū yǎn sè zéshirk one's responsibilitiesidiom

Word lists with this word