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March 24, 2026
敷衍fūyǎn(fu1yan3)
The verb 敷衍 (fū yǎn) refers to doing something in a perfunctory manner, often lacking in detail or effort. It implies a sense of skimping or doing the bare minimum, whether in work, explanations, or personal interactions, suggesting a lack of genuine care or commitment.
Strokes24Frequency#14039DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, doing things half-heartedly, or 敷衍, can be seen as a serious social faux pas, especially in professional settings where diligence and commitment are highly valued. This reflects the cultural emphasis on collective responsibility and integrity.
Memory Tip
Imagine a student, 'Fu Yan', who is tasked with elaborating on a classic text but only skims the surface, pretending to put in effort while actually being half-hearted. The character 敷 (fū) suggests a covering or superficial layer, while 衍 (yǎn) can be associated with extending or elaborating; together they convey a sense of surface-level engagement.
Meanings of 敷衍
fūyǎn(fu1yan3)
1to elaborate (on a theme)
2to expound (the classics)
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About 敷衍
敷衍Simplified
24Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#14039Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7TOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 敷衍
Podcast: 敷衍
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AI Study Notes for 敷衍
Quick Contrast
敷衍 (fūyǎn) vs 马虎 (mǎhu) — use 敷衍 when emphasizing a lack of genuine effort or care, while 马虎 focuses more on being careless or negligent.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 敷衍 with similar-sounding words like 发言 (fā yán, to speak) or 演 (yǎn, to perform), which carry more positive connotations. 敷衍 is often used negatively, so be mindful of context; it is more suitable in informal settings but can also appear in critical discussions.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 敷衍 connects with other advanced vocabulary that discusses quality, effort, and engagement. Students should focus on understanding the nuanced differences between this word and others related to effort, such as 努力 (nǔ lì, to strive).
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 敷衍 to describe general lack of effort without realizing it has a specific connotation of superficiality. For example, saying '他很敷衍地工作' (He works very perfunctorily) can be correct, but using it for simple laziness is a common error. Instead, one might use 懒惰 (lǎn duò, lazy) in such cases.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 敷衍
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The verb 敷衍 (fū yǎn) refers to doing something in a perfunctory manner, often lacking in detail or effort. It implies a sense of skimping or doing the bare minimum, whether in work, explanations, or personal interactions, suggesting a lack of genuine care or commitment.
When to use 敷衍
Common mistakes include confusing 敷衍 with similar-sounding words like 发言 (fā yán, to speak) or 演 (yǎn, to perform), which carry more positive connotations. 敷衍 is often used negatively, so be mindful of context; it is more suitable in informal settings but can also appear in critical discussions.
敷衍 or something close to it
敷衍 (fūyǎn) vs 马虎 (mǎhu) — use 敷衍 when emphasizing a lack of genuine effort or care, while 马虎 focuses more on being careless or negligent.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 敷衍 to describe general lack of effort without realizing it has a specific connotation of superficiality. For example, saying '他很敷衍地工作' (He works very perfunctorily) can be correct, but using it for simple laziness is a common error. Instead, one might use 懒惰 (lǎn duò, lazy) in such cases.
Write 敷衍
敷
衍
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Grammar Patterns of 敷衍
敷衍 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
