Chinese Conversation · Level 56
90 words
Chinese word
钝
Pronunciation
Pinyindùn
Meaning
- adjectiveslow
Example
他开会时反应很钝，跟不上讨论。tā kāi huì shí fǎn yìng hěn dùn gēn bú shàng tǎo lùn
His reactions are very slow during meetings, and he cannot keep up with the discussion.
More examples
她对批评很钝，不太在意别人的话。tā duì pī píng hěn dùn bú tài zài yì bié rén de huà
She is not very sensitive to criticism and does not pay much attention to what others say.
Core concept
A lack of sharpness, whether in a blade, a sense, or a person's response.
Common phrases
反应很钝fǎn yìng hěn dùn
have slow reactions
感觉很钝gǎn jué hěn dùn
have dull senses
Similar words
迟钝chí dùn: Taking a long time to respond, understand, or become aware of something.
迟缓chí huǎn: Moving or developing slowly rather than at a normal speed.
笨bèn: Lacking skill or good judgment and therefore slow to handle things.
Definition in Chinese
主要指人或感官反应迟缓、不灵敏，动作或理解跟不上；也可用于形容物体不锋利。zhǔ yào zhǐ rén huò gǎn guān fǎn yìng chí huǎn bù líng mǐn dòng zuò huò lí jiě gēn bú shàng yě kě yòng yú xíng róng wù tǐ bù fēng lì
Word origin
钝 (dùn, "dull") combines 钅 (jīn, "metal"), which points to a metal tool, with 屯 (tún, "phonetic element"); the original sense of a blunt edge broadened to describe slow perception and thought.
Usage tips
- The adjective often sounds critical when it labels a person's ability, so everyday speech usually names the particular difficulty instead.
Other meanings
- dulladjective
- bluntadjective
Opposites
- 灵敏líng mǐnsensitiveadjective
Related words
- 迟钝chí dùndulladjective