Chinese word

毛病

Pronunciation

Pinyinmáo bìng

Meaning

  • nounproblem

Example

电脑有毛病，不能正常工作。diàn nǎo yǒu máo bìng bù néng zhèng cháng gōng zuò

The computer has a problem and cannot work normally.

Illustration for 毛病 (problem)

More examples

他把手机的毛病修好了。tā bǎ shǒu jī de máo bìng xiū hǎo le

He fixed the problem with the phone.

Core concept

An unwanted hitch in normal functioning, whether it appears in a device, the body, or a person's conduct.

Common phrases

  • 修理毛病xiū lǐ máo bìng

    fix a problem

  • 改掉毛病gǎi diào máo bìng

    correct a flaw

  • 检查毛病jiǎn chá máo bìng

    check for problems

Similar words

问题wèn tí: A difficult issue that requires attention and a solution.
故障gù zhàng: A fault in machinery or equipment that makes it stop working properly.

Definition in Chinese

口语中常用的名词，用于表示机械或电子设备的故障、人体的小病以及行为或性格上的缺陷，泛指妨碍正常运作的问题。kóu yǔ zhōng cháng yòng de míng cí yòng yú biǎo shì jī xiè huò diàn zi shè bèi de gù zhàng rén tǐ de xiǎo bìng yǐ jí xíng wéi huò xìng gé shàng de quē xiàn fàn zhǐ fáng ài zhèng cháng yùn zuò de wèn tí

Word origin

毛病 (máobìng, "fault or ailment") is learned as a whole lexicalized compound; 病 (bìng, "illness") links bodily illness with disorder, while 毛 (máo, "hair") adds no separate modern meaning.

Usage tips

  • Because the word does not identify a cause, it can describe a device that is failing before anyone knows which part needs repair.

Other meanings

  • ailmentnoun
  • shortcomingnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 小毛病xiǎo máo bìngminor problemnoun

Word lists with this word