When someone is in a really bad situation, maybe they've failed at something, or they look a mess, you can say they are 狼狈 (lángbèi). It means they're in a sorry state or discomfited. Think of it like feeling embarrassed and a bit of a failure all at once. It's often used to describe someone looking flustered or messy after an unfortunate event.
When you are in a difficult situation or feel embarrassed, you can use the word 狼狈 (láng bèi). This word describes a state of being in a sorry plight or being discomfited, often due to an awkward or troublesome event. For example, if you get caught in the rain without an umbrella, you might feel 狼狈. It suggests a feeling of being flustered, messy, or in a difficult predicament.
When we say someone is 狼狈 (lángbèi), it means they are in a very awkward, embarrassed, or discomfited situation. It's often used when someone is in a bit of a mess, feeling flustered, or looks a little pathetic due to a difficult circumstance. Think of someone who has just gone through something unpleasant and is looking a bit disheveled and uncomfortable. It perfectly describes that feeling of being caught off guard and looking a bit out of place.
§ Understanding 狼狈 (lángbèi)
Alright, let's get into how to properly use 狼狈 (lángbèi) in your Chinese sentences. This word is super useful for describing situations where someone is in a really bad, awkward, or discomfited state. Think of it as feeling humiliated, embarrassed, or just generally in a mess.
- DEFINITION
- In a sorry state; discomfited; in a dilemma; embarrassed.
The key thing to remember is that 狼狈 describes a state or appearance. It's often used to talk about someone looking or feeling very awkward, embarrassed, or in a difficult predicament.
§ Basic Sentence Structures with 狼狈
You'll usually find 狼狈 acting as an adjective or an adverb in a sentence. Here are the most common ways to use it:
- As a predicate adjective: Subject + 狼狈
他看起来很狼狈。(He looked very discomfited.)
- With an adverb of degree: Subject + 很/非常/有点 + 狼狈
她跑得上气不接下气，样子非常狼狈。(She ran out of breath, looking extremely discomfited.)
- To describe an action or state: Subject + 狼狈 + 地 + Verb/Adjective Phrase
他狼狈地逃走了。(He fled in a sorry state.)
被大雨淋湿后，他显得非常狼狈。(After being soaked by the heavy rain, he looked very discomfited.)
§ Common Situations for Using 狼狈
You'll often hear or use 狼狈 when:
- Someone is in a difficult or embarrassing situation: They might have made a mistake, been caught off guard, or are just generally struggling.
他把咖啡洒在了身上，样子很狼狈。(He spilled coffee on himself and looked very embarrassed.)
- Someone is defeated or in retreat: This can be in a literal sense (like fleeing) or a metaphorical sense (like losing an argument).
敌人狼狈地撤退了。(The enemy retreated in a sorry state.)
- Describing an awkward or unkempt appearance: When someone looks a bit of a mess.
她昨晚没睡好，今天看起来有点狼狈。(She didn't sleep well last night and looks a bit disheveled today.)
Practice using 狼狈 in different contexts to get a feel for it. The more you use it, the more natural it will become in your Chinese conversations!
§ Don't confuse 狼狈 with similar-sounding words
Many Chinese words can sound similar, especially if you're not used to distinguishing between the four tones. 狼狈 (lángbèi) is a common one that learners sometimes mix up with other phrases. For example, some might confuse it with 狼狈为奸 (lángbèi wéijiān), which is a chengyu meaning 'to collude in doing evil.' While both involve '狼狈', their meanings are quite different. Remember, 狼狈 on its own describes a state of being in a difficult or embarrassing situation, not a collaboration in wrongdoing.
- DEFINITION
- To collude in doing evil; to work hand in glove with a villain.
他们 狼狈为奸，损害了公司利益。
They colluded in wrongdoing, harming the company's interests.
§ Using 狼狈 incorrectly with emotions
While 狼狈 (lángbèi) describes a state of discomfiture or embarrassment, it's not typically used to directly express a feeling *you* have in the same way you might say '我很伤心' (wǒ hěn shāngxīn - I am sad). Instead, it describes a situation or appearance. You wouldn't say '我感觉很狼狈' (wǒ gǎnjué hěn lángbèi) to mean 'I feel embarrassed' in a simple, direct way. It's more about observing someone (or yourself, from a slightly detached perspective) in a state of distress or awkwardness. It implies a situation that *causes* embarrassment or difficulty.
Correct usage focuses on the visual or situational aspect:
他看起来很狼狈。(Tā kàn qǐlái hěn lángbèi.) - He looks very discomfited/in a sorry state.
情况非常狼狈。(Qíngkuàng fēicháng lángbèi.) - The situation was very embarrassing/awkward.
§ Overusing 狼狈 for simple embarrassment
Sometimes learners might use 狼狈 (lángbèi) for any kind of embarrassment. However, 狼狈 implies a higher degree of difficulty, awkwardness, or a 'sorry state' than simple shyness or a minor social faux pas. If someone just tripped and got up quickly, you might say they were a bit awkward (有点尴尬 - yǒudiǎn gānggà), but '狼狈' would suggest a more significant mishap, perhaps falling into a puddle, losing their belongings, or being publicly humiliated.
他在大庭广众之下摔倒，场面很狼狈。
He fell in front of a large crowd; the scene was very embarrassing/discomfited.
- DEFINITION
- Embarrassed; awkward.
我说了错话，觉得有点尴尬。
I said the wrong thing and felt a bit awkward.
§ Not understanding the nuance of 'in a sorry state'
The English definition 'in a sorry state' for 狼狈 (lángbèi) is a good starting point, but it's important to grasp the full nuance. It often implies a combination of physical disarray, mental distress, and a loss of composure or dignity. It's not just 'sad' or 'unhappy'; it's about being caught in a difficult, often public, situation where one appears quite undignified or flustered. Think of someone caught in a sudden downpour without an umbrella, their clothes soaked, hair messy, trying to hail a cab – that's 狼狈.
雨下得很大，他被淋得非常狼狈。
It rained heavily, and he was soaked and in a very sorry state.
By being mindful of these common mistakes, you can use 狼狈 (lángbèi) more accurately and naturally in your Chinese conversations.
How Formal Is It?
"他在雨中摔倒，显得狼狈不堪。(He fell in the rain, appearing utterly discomfited.)"
"大雨过后，他们全身湿透，样子很狼狈。(After the heavy rain, they were soaked through and looked very discomfited.)"
"我昨晚熬夜学习，今天早上精神一塌糊涂。(I stayed up late studying last night, and this morning I'm a complete mess.)"
"小狗在泥地里打滚，弄得自己脏兮兮的。(The puppy rolled in the mud and got himself all dirty.)"
"他当众出糗了，脸都红了。(He made a fool of himself in public; his face turned red.)"
Wusstest du?
The imagery of the wolf and the limping beast, despite their mutual reliance, evokes a sense of clumsiness or being out of sync, which contributes to the meaning of being in a sorry state.
Schwierigkeitsgrad
Two common characters, relatively easy to recognize.
Both characters are common and not overly complex to write.
Tones are straightforward (lángbèi), pronunciation is not difficult.
No common homophones that cause confusion, fairly distinct pronunciation.
Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest
Voraussetzungen
Als Nächstes lernen
Fortgeschritten
Beispiele nach Niveau
他被雨淋得浑身湿透，看起来很狼狈。
He was soaked by the rain, looking very discomfited.
考试没考好，他从考场出来时神情狼狈。
He didn't do well on the exam, and looked quite in a sorry state when he came out of the examination hall.
她不小心摔了一跤，弄得头发凌乱，样子十分狼狈。
She accidentally fell, messing up her hair and looking very discomfited.
由于准备不足，他在会议上回答问题时显得很狼狈。
Due to insufficient preparation, he appeared very discomfited when answering questions at the meeting.
被记者围追堵截，那位明星显得有些狼狈。
Surrounded and pursued by reporters, the celebrity looked a bit in a sorry state.
经过一夜的奔波，我们都筋疲力尽，模样狼狈。
After a night of traveling, we were all exhausted and looked discomfited.
他的计划失败了，让他陷入了狼狈的境地。
His plan failed, putting him in a sorry state.
在公众场合犯了错，她感到非常狼狈。
She felt very discomfited after making a mistake in public.
他被雨淋湿了，全身湿透，样子十分狼狈。
He got caught in the rain, soaked through, looking very discomfited.
面试失败后，他心情沮丧，匆匆离开了，显得十分狼狈。
After failing the interview, he was dejected and left in a hurry, appearing quite discomfited.
她不小心在公共场合摔了一跤，爬起来的时候，样子有点狼狈。
She accidentally fell in public, and when she got up, she looked a bit discomfited.
面对突如其来的问题，他不知所措，神情狼狈。
Facing the sudden problem, he was at a loss, looking discomfited.
被发现偷窃后，小偷想逃跑，结果摔倒在地，非常狼狈。
After being caught stealing, the thief tried to run away but fell to the ground, looking very discomfited.
他的谎言被揭穿后，脸涨得通红，不知该如何是好，显得十分狼狈。
After his lie was exposed, his face turned red, and he didn't know what to do, appearing very discomfited.
比赛输了，队员们垂头丧气，狼狈地走下场。
The team lost the game, and the players, dejected, walked off the field in a discomfited manner.
他在演讲中忘词了，支支吾吾，显得非常狼狈。
He forgot his lines during the speech, stammering and looking very discomfited.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
他看起来很狼狈。
He looks very discomfited. (He looks like he's in a sorry state.)
那次失败让他很狼狈。
That failure put him in a very embarrassing situation. (That failure made him very discomfited.)
下雨了，她被淋得一身狼狈。
It rained, and she was soaked and in a sorry state. (She was drenched and discomfited.)
比赛输了，他们狼狈地离开了。
They lost the game and left in a sorry state. (They left discomfited.)
他在众人面前出丑，显得十分狼狈。
He made a fool of himself in front of everyone, looking very discomfited. (He appeared very embarrassed.)
遇到突发情况，他有些狼狈。
He was a bit discomfited when he encountered an emergency. (He was a bit in a sorry state.)
敌军被打得狼狈而逃。
The enemy army was defeated and fled in a sorry state. (The enemy army fled discomfited.)
她的处境很狼狈，不知道该怎么办。
Her situation is very awkward/discomfited, she doesn't know what to do. (She's in a sorry state.)
他摔了一跤，爬起来时样子很狼狈。
He fell, and when he got up, he looked very discomfited. (He looked in a sorry state.)
这两个人狼狈为奸，做了很多坏事。
These two colluded in evil, doing many bad things. (They acted in collusion.)
Grammatikmuster
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
"狼狈不堪"
extremely discomfited; in a terribly sorry state
他被雨淋得狼狈不堪。
neutral"狼狈为奸"
act in collusion with each other (to do evil)
这两个人狼狈为奸，做了很多坏事。
neutral"进退狼狈"
in a dilemma; in a predicament
他现在是进退狼狈，不知道该怎么办。
neutral"十分狼狈"
very embarrassed/awkward
她突然跌倒，感觉十分狼狈。
neutral"狼狈的样子"
a sorry/embarrassed look
他解释的时候，露出了狼狈的样子。
neutral"显得狼狈"
appear awkward/embarrassed
面对突如其来的问题，他显得有些狼狈。
neutral"别这么狼狈"
don't be so awkward/embarrassed
只是一个小失误，别这么狼狈。
informal"搞得狼狈"
to make a mess; to make someone look bad
他把事情搞得一团糟，大家都觉得他很狼狈。
neutral"窘况狼狈"
embarrassing situation
他陷入了窘况狼狈的境地。
formal"狼狈相"
a sorry/embarrassed sight
他那狼狈相让大家忍俊不禁。
neutralSatzmuster
A 看起来很狼狈。(A kànqǐlái hěn lángbèi.)
他今天看起来很狼狈，好像遇到了什么麻烦。(Tā jīntiān kànqǐlái hěn lángbèi, hǎoxiàng yùdào le shénme máfan.) He looks quite discomfited today, as if he encountered some trouble.
A 感到很狼狈。(A gǎndào hěn lángbèi.)
被当众批评后，她感到很狼狈。(Bèi dāngzhòng pīpíng hòu, tā gǎndào hěn lángbèi.) After being criticized in public, she felt very embarrassed.
使/让 A 狼狈不堪。(shǐ/ràng A lángbèi bùkān.)
突如其来的大雨让他狼狈不堪。(Túrúqílái de dàyǔ ràng tā lángbèi bùkān.) The sudden heavy rain left him in a terrible state.
狼狈地 + Verb (lángbèi de + Verb)
他狼狈地逃走了，连头也不敢回。(Tā lángbèi de táozǒu le, lián tóu yě bù gǎn huí.) He fled in a sorry state, not even daring to look back.
A 和 B 狼狈为奸。(A hé B lángbèi wéijiān.)
这两个公司狼狈为奸，共同垄断了市场。(Zhè liǎng ge gōngsī lángbèi wéijiān, gòngtóng lǒngduàn le shìchǎng.) These two companies colluded in evil, jointly monopolizing the market.
Tipps
狼狈: 'Sorry state' vs. 'Awkward'
While 'sorry state' captures the discomfort, '狼狈' often implies an awkward or embarrassing predicament. Think of situations where someone is flustered, disheveled, or in a tight spot.
Visualizing 狼狈: 'Wolf' and 'Badger'
The characters for '狼狈' literally mean 'wolf' (狼) and 'badger' (狈). In ancient Chinese folklore, the '狈' (bèi) was a mythical creature that needed to lean on the '狼' (láng) to walk. This imagery perfectly conveys a sense of being dependent, helpless, or in a difficult position.
狼狈: Beyond physical appearance
While '狼狈' can describe a physically disheveled state, it also applies to being mentally or emotionally discomfited. For example, someone might be 狼狈 after making a public mistake, even if they look fine.
Context is key for 狼狈
The exact nuance of '狼狈' depends on the situation. Consider if the person is embarrassed, flustered, helpless, or simply uncomfortable. Pay attention to the surrounding words.
Common usage with '很' or '十分'
You'll often hear '狼狈' with adverbs like '很' (hěn - very) or '十分' (shífēn - extremely) to emphasize the degree of discomfort or embarrassment. For example: 他看起来很狼狈 (He looks very discomfited).
Opposite feelings of 狼狈
Think of the opposite of '狼狈' to solidify its meaning. Words like '从容' (cóngróng - calm and unhurried) or '镇定' (zhèndìng - calm and steady) describe someone who is composed and not in a sorry state.
Use 狼狈 to describe a predicament
This word is excellent for describing someone caught in a tricky situation or an unfortunate predicament. For instance, being caught in the rain without an umbrella would make you feel 狼狈.
Practice with example sentences for 狼狈
The best way to grasp '狼狈' is to see it in action. Pay attention to how it's used in different scenarios to understand its versatility. Don't just memorize the definition.
Don't confuse 狼狈 with 'sad'
While '狼狈' can imply sadness in some contexts, it primarily conveys a sense of awkwardness, discomfiture, or being in a difficult position, rather than just general unhappiness.
狼狈: More than just 'messy'
Though sometimes a messy appearance can contribute to being '狼狈', the word itself denotes a deeper feeling of embarrassment or distress, not just physical disorder.
Wortherkunft
The first character, 狼 (láng), refers to a wolf. The second character, 狈 (bèi), refers to a legendary, limping beast with short forelegs that was said to ride on the back of a wolf.
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: The combination of 狼 (wolf) and 狈 (the limping beast) originally described two creatures that were often seen together, relying on each other for movement. However, it evolved to metaphorically represent a difficult or awkward situation where one is in a sorry or discomfited state, often due to being unprepared or caught off guard.
Sino-Tibetan, Sinitic languages, ChineseKultureller Kontext
The phrase "狼狈" carries a strong sense of embarrassment and awkwardness in Chinese culture. It's often used to describe someone who is caught in an embarrassing situation, perhaps losing face, or in a state of disarray. Understanding this nuance helps learners grasp the emotional weight and social implications of the word in various contexts.
Teste dich selbst 42 Fragen
Listen to the sentence about someone being in a sorry state.
Listen to the sentence describing seeing someone in a discomfited state.
Listen to the question asking why someone looks discomfited.
Read this aloud:
他很狼狈。
Focus: láng bèi
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
我看到他很狼狈。
Focus: kàn dào
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
你为什么看起来很狼狈？
Focus: wèi shén me
Du hast gesagt:
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Imagine you just finished a really messy cooking experiment. Describe how you feel using a Chinese phrase.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我感觉很狼狈。
You got caught in the rain without an umbrella. Write a short sentence describing your wet and dishevelled state.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我被雨淋得很狼狈。
You tried to fix something yourself and made it worse. Describe your situation in Chinese.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我把东西弄得很狼狈。
小狗为什么看起来很狼狈？
Read this passage:
小狗追着球跑，不小心掉进了水坑里。它全身都湿了，看起来非常狼狈。
小狗为什么看起来很狼狈？
小狗掉进了水坑里，所以全身湿透，看起来很狼狈。
小狗掉进了水坑里，所以全身湿透，看起来很狼狈。
他为什么感觉很狼狈？
Read this passage:
他早上起床太晚了，没时间穿好衣服就出门了。在公共汽车上，他发现自己没穿袜子，感觉很狼狈。
他为什么感觉很狼狈？
他发现自己没穿袜子，所以感觉很狼狈。
他发现自己没穿袜子，所以感觉很狼狈。
这个学生为什么觉得狼狈？
Read this passage:
那个学生在考试的时候不小心打翻了水杯，弄湿了试卷。他觉得非常狼狈，脸都红了。
这个学生为什么觉得狼狈？
学生打翻水杯弄湿试卷，因此感到狼狈。
学生打翻水杯弄湿试卷，因此感到狼狈。
他考试不及格，觉得很______。
狼狈 (lángbèi) means in a sorry state, which fits the context of failing an exam.
下雨没带伞，他全身湿透，非常______。
全身湿透 (quánshēn shītòu) means completely soaked, which would make someone feel discomfited or in a sorry state.
她不小心摔了一跤，站起来的时候有点______。
摔了一跤 (shuāi le yī jiāo) means fell down, which would likely lead to feeling discomfited or embarrassed.
一个取得成功的人会感到狼狈。
狼狈 (lángbèi) describes a state of embarrassment or being in a sorry state, which is generally not associated with success.
如果你在公共场合犯了一个错误，你可能会感到狼狈。
在公共场合犯错误 (zài gōnggòng chǎnghé fàn cuòwù) means making a mistake in public, which would typically cause one to feel embarrassed or discomfited.
穿着干净整齐的衣服去参加派对会让你感到狼狈。
穿着干净整齐的衣服 (chuānzhe gānjìng zhěngqí de yīfu) means wearing clean and tidy clothes, which would make someone feel good, not in a sorry state.
Describe a time you felt embarrassed or in a 'sorry state'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
有一次我在演讲的时候忘词了，当时觉得特别狼狈。
Write a sentence using '狼狈' to describe someone who got into trouble.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
他把事情搞砸了，最后一个人收拾烂摊子，非常狼狈。
Imagine you saw someone fall down. How would you describe their 'sorry state' using '狼狈'?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
她不小心摔了一跤，东西撒了一地，看起来很狼狈。
小明为什么感到狼狈？
Read this passage:
小明第一次参加派对，他不知道该说什么，也不知道该做什么。他不小心把饮料洒到了衣服上，感觉非常不舒服。他想找个地方躲起来，觉得很狼狈。
小明为什么感到狼狈？
文中提到小明不知道该说什么、做什么，还把饮料洒了，这些都让他感到狼狈。
文中提到小明不知道该说什么、做什么，还把饮料洒了，这些都让他感到狼狈。
根据这段文字，教练为什么表情狼狈？
Read this passage:
昨晚的比赛，我们队输得很惨。队员们都非常沮丧，没有人说话。教练也一言不发，表情十分狼狈。大家都希望下一场比赛能表现得更好。
根据这段文字，教练为什么表情狼狈？
文中提到“我们队输得很惨”，所以教练的表情狼狈是因为比赛失利。
文中提到“我们队输得很惨”，所以教练的表情狼狈是因为比赛失利。
这个人为什么觉得狼狈？
Read this passage:
下雨天没带伞，他被雨淋成了落汤鸡。到了公司，全身湿透，头发也乱七八糟。同事们都看着他，他觉得非常狼狈，赶紧跑到洗手间整理了一下。
这个人为什么觉得狼狈？
没带伞被雨淋湿，全身湿透，以及被同事看着，这些都让他觉得狼狈。
没带伞被雨淋湿，全身湿透，以及被同事看着，这些都让他觉得狼狈。
This sentence describes someone feeling very embarrassed or discomfited.
This sentence means 'The rain was heavy, and we were in a sorry state.'
This sentence translates to 'She doesn't want to appear discomfited.'
He looks very dishevelled, his clothes are also dirty.
Having lost the game, the team members appeared very discomfited.
He didn't bring an umbrella in the rain and was soaked, looking very miserable.
Read this aloud:
我看到他跌倒了，样子很狼狈。
Focus: láng bèi
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
在公开场合出丑让他感到很狼狈。
Focus: gǎn dào hěn láng bèi
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
他们被困在雨中，显得非常狼狈。
Focus: xiǎn de fēi cháng láng bèi
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Listen to the sentence describing someone's appearance after a marathon.
Listen for how unexpected heavy rain affected tourists.
Listen to how someone felt after a project failed.
Read this aloud:
请用“狼狈”造一个句子。
Focus: láng bèi
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
描述一个你曾经感到“狼狈”的经历。
Focus: láng bèi
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
当你看到别人处于“狼狈”的状态时，你会怎么做？
Focus: láng bèi
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Perfect score!
狼狈: 'Sorry state' vs. 'Awkward'
While 'sorry state' captures the discomfort, '狼狈' often implies an awkward or embarrassing predicament. Think of situations where someone is flustered, disheveled, or in a tight spot.
Visualizing 狼狈: 'Wolf' and 'Badger'
The characters for '狼狈' literally mean 'wolf' (狼) and 'badger' (狈). In ancient Chinese folklore, the '狈' (bèi) was a mythical creature that needed to lean on the '狼' (láng) to walk. This imagery perfectly conveys a sense of being dependent, helpless, or in a difficult position.
狼狈: Beyond physical appearance
While '狼狈' can describe a physically disheveled state, it also applies to being mentally or emotionally discomfited. For example, someone might be 狼狈 after making a public mistake, even if they look fine.
Context is key for 狼狈
The exact nuance of '狼狈' depends on the situation. Consider if the person is embarrassed, flustered, helpless, or simply uncomfortable. Pay attention to the surrounding words.
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朝九晚五
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B2To abandon; to discard; to cease to use.
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