HSK · Level 21
135 words
Chinese word
生硬
Pronunciation
Pinyinshēng yìng
Meaning
- adjectiveunnatural
Example
这段翻译有点生硬。zhè duàn fān yì yóu diǎn shēng yìng
This translation is a little unnatural.
More examples
面试时他的回答听起来有点生硬。miàn shì shí tā de huí dá tīng qǐ lái yóu diǎn shēng yìng
His answers in the interview sound a little unnatural.
Core concept
Language or behavior that feels raw and rigid instead of flowing naturally.
Common phrases
显得生硬xiǎn de shēng yìng
seem unnatural
表达生硬biǎo dá shēng yìng
express oneself awkwardly
措辞生硬cuò cí shēng yìng
use stilted wording
Similar words
僵硬jiāng yìng: Describes movement, attitude, or expression that is rigid and not flexible.
生涩shēng sè: Describes language or writing that lacks fluency and is hard to read or hear.
做作zuò zuò: Describes actions or manner that seem unnatural and put on.
笨拙bèn zhuō: Describes movement or expression that is awkward because it is poorly done.
Definition in Chinese
指语言表达或行为因不熟练或过于刻板而显得不自然、不流畅。zhǐ yǔ yán biǎo dá huò xíng wéi yīn bù shú liàn huò guò yú kè bǎn ér xiǎn de bú zì rán bù liú chàng
Word origin
生硬 (shēngyìng, "unnatural") is formed from 生 (shēng, "raw") + 硬 (yìng, "hard"), extending the physical idea of something raw and hard to language or behavior that feels stiff and unpolished.
Usage tips
- In conversation lessons, this word can describe a sentence that is grammatically correct but does not sound natural, helping separate grammatical accuracy from natural expression.