顾忌

§ What does 顾忌 (gùjì) mean?

Let's get straight to it. 顾忌 (gùjì) is a noun in Chinese. It means 'scruple' or 'apprehension.' Think of it as those reservations or concerns you have that might stop you from doing something or saying something. It's about having second thoughts, usually due to potential negative consequences, social norms, or moral considerations.

DEFINITION

Scruple; apprehension. Reservations or concerns that might hinder an action or statement.

When you have 顾忌, it means there's something holding you back. It's not necessarily fear, but more like a careful consideration of potential downsides or a feeling of unease about a certain action or statement. You might have 顾忌 about hurting someone's feelings, offending someone, or even just doing something that goes against your own principles. It's a very human feeling, and it's used in everyday conversation quite a bit.

§ When do people use 顾忌 (gùjì)?

People use 顾忌 when they want to express that they are hesitant or cautious about something because of certain concerns. It's often used in situations where someone is trying to be polite, avoid conflict, or uphold a certain standard. Here are a few common scenarios:

• Social situations: You might have 顾忌 about speaking too loudly in a quiet place, or about asking a very personal question.
• Moral dilemmas: Someone might have 顾忌 about telling a small lie, even if it seems harmless, because it goes against their sense of honesty.
• Professional settings: An employee might have 顾忌 about openly criticizing their boss, even if they disagree, due to potential career repercussions.
• Personal relationships: You might have 顾忌 about sharing certain sensitive information with a new friend until you trust them more.

It's about those internal checks and balances we all have. You're not necessarily afraid, but you are weighing the pros and cons, especially the potential negative ones. It's about being thoughtful and considerate, or sometimes, just being cautious.

§ Examples of 顾忌 (gùjì) in action

Let's look at some practical examples so you can see how 顾忌 is used in real sentences. Pay attention to how it creates a sense of hesitation or reservation.

Tā shuōhuà méi shénme gùjì.
He speaks without any scruples/apprehensions. (Meaning, he's very direct, perhaps even a bit blunt.)

Yīnwèi yǒu gùjì, tā méiyǒu bǎ suǒyǒu shìqíng dōu shuō chūlái.
Because she had apprehensions/scruples, she didn't say everything.

Bié yǒu rènhé gùjì, jǐnguǎn shuō.
Don't have any scruples/apprehensions, just say it.

Notice how in each example, 顾忌 implies a reason for holding back or being careful. It's about the internal thoughts that make you hesitate.

§ Common mistakes to avoid

Learners sometimes confuse 顾忌 with simpler words for 'worry' or 'fear.' While there's an element of concern, 顾忌 is more specific. It's not just a general worry, but a specific reservation that makes you think twice about an action or statement due to its potential impact or implications. It's about being mindful of boundaries or consequences.

• Don't use it for simple fear: If you're afraid of a spider, you wouldn't say你有顾忌. You'd use 害怕 (hàipà).
• It's not just 'thinking': While it involves thinking, it specifically refers to the *reservations* or *scruples* that arise from that thought process.

Mastering 顾忌 will make your Chinese sound much more natural and nuanced. It allows you to express a deeper level of consideration and social awareness in your communication. Keep practicing with these examples, and you'll get the hang of it!

§ What does 顾忌 mean?

CHINESE WORD

顾忌 (gùjì)

CEFR LEVEL

B2

DEFINITION

Scruple; apprehension. It refers to a feeling of hesitation or concern, often due to moral, social, or personal considerations, that prevents one from acting freely or saying something directly.

When you have 顾忌, it means there's something holding you back. It's not just a simple worry; it implies that you're thinking about the potential negative consequences or implications of your actions or words. This can be about offending someone, breaking a rule, or going against your own principles.

§ How to use 顾忌 in sentences

顾忌 is often used as a noun, but it can also function as a verb, meaning 'to have scruples about' or 'to be apprehensive about'. Let's look at how it fits into different sentence structures.

§ As a noun (scruple, apprehension)

When 顾忌 acts as a noun, it usually describes a feeling or a consideration. You'll often see it paired with verbs like 有 (yǒu - to have) or 消除 (xiāochú - to eliminate).

Tā méiyǒu gùjì de biǎodá le zìjǐ de kànfǎ.
He expressed his views without any scruples (hesitation/apprehension).

Qǐng nǐ fàngxīn shuō, búyòng yǒu rènhé gùjì.
Please speak freely, don't have any apprehensions.

§ As a verb (to have scruples about, to be apprehensive about)

When 顾忌 functions as a verb, it directly indicates the act of having reservations or concerns about something. It's often followed by what one is apprehensive about.

Tā gùjì dézuì lǎobǎn, suǒyǐ bù gǎn shuō zhēnhuà.
He was apprehensive about offending the boss, so he didn't dare to speak the truth.

Wǒmen bù yīnggāi yǒu tài duō gùjì, gāi shuō shénme jiù shuō shénme.
We shouldn't have too many scruples; we should just say what needs to be said.

§ Common phrases and structures with 顾忌

Here are some common ways you'll hear and use 顾忌:

• 毫无顾忌 (háowú gùjì): Without any scruples/apprehension. This phrase emphasizes a complete lack of hesitation or concern.

  他毫无顾忌地批评了政府的政策。

  Tā háowú gùjì de pīpíng le zhèngfǔ de zhèngcè.
  He criticized the government's policies without any scruples.

• 有所顾忌 (yǒu suǒ gùjì): To have some scruples/apprehensions. This indicates a certain level of reservation.

  她对这件事有所顾忌，不敢轻易表态。

  Tā duì zhè jiàn shì yǒu suǒ gùjì, bù gǎn qīngyì biǎotài.
  She had some apprehensions about this matter and didn't dare to easily express her stance.

• 打消顾忌 (dǎxiāo gùjì): To dispel/eliminate scruples/apprehensions. This implies removing someone's concerns.

  经理的话打消了我的所有顾忌。

  Jīnglǐ de huà dǎxiāo le wǒ de suǒyǒu gùjì.
  The manager's words dispelled all my apprehensions.

§ Prepositions and grammar notes

While 顾忌 itself doesn't often take direct prepositions in the same way English does, its usage in sentences often implies prepositions or relationships. For example, when you say “对…有所顾忌” (duì… yǒu suǒ gùjì), 对 (duì) acts like 'regarding' or 'about'.

Tā duì fābiǎo yìjiàn yǒu suǒ gùjì.
He had some scruples about expressing his opinion.

Remember, 顾忌 is a versatile word. Pay attention to the context to understand if it's functioning as a noun or a verb. The key is that it always conveys a sense of reservation or concern due to potential negative outcomes, whether social, moral, or practical.

§ Understanding 顾忌 (gùjì)

Alright, let's break down 顾忌 (gùjì). It's a useful word for expressing concerns or hesitations that prevent someone from doing something. Think of it as having 'scruples' or 'apprehensions'. It's not just a simple 'worry'; it implies a moral or social constraint.

DEFINITION

Scruple; apprehension. A feeling of hesitation or doubt that prevents one from doing something, often due to moral, social, or personal considerations.

Tā zuò rènhé shì dōu méiyǒu gùjì. (He has no scruples/apprehensions about doing anything.)

Tā duì zìjǐ de xíngwéi méiyǒu gùjì. (She has no qualms/apprehensions about her own behavior.)

§ 顾忌 (gùjì) vs. 担心 (dānxīn) vs. 犹豫 (yóuyù)

These three words can all relate to hesitations, but they're used in different contexts. Don't mix them up.

• 顾忌 (gùjì): This is about scruples or apprehensions that stop you due to deeper considerations – often moral, social, or reputational. It's about what you *shouldn't* do because of consequences or principles.

  他没有顾忌地说了实话。

  Tā méiyǒu gùjì de shuōle shíhuà. (He spoke the truth without apprehension/scruples, meaning he didn't care about the social implications or offending someone.)

• 担心 (dānxīn): This simply means 'to worry' or 'to be concerned'. It's about a negative feeling regarding a potential outcome. It doesn't necessarily imply a moral or social restraint, just a general anxiety.

  我担心他会迟到。

  Wǒ dānxīn tā huì chídào. (I'm worried he will be late.)

• 犹豫 (yóuyù): This means 'to hesitate' or 'to be indecisive'. It's about taking time to make a decision, often because you're weighing options or can't make up your mind. It's about the act of delaying, not necessarily the reason behind it being moral/social.

  他犹豫了一下，然后回答了。

  Tā yóuyù le yīxià, ránhòu huídále. (He hesitated for a moment, then answered.)

§ When to use 顾忌 (gùjì)

Use 顾忌 when someone is holding back or hesitating because of:

• Reputation or face (面子): They don't want to lose face or be seen negatively.

  她说话从不顾忌，想说什么就说什么。

  Tā shuōhuà cóng bù gùjì, xiǎng shuō shénme jiù shuō shénme. (She never has apprehensions when she speaks; she says whatever she wants.)

• Moral principles: They feel something is wrong or goes against their ethics.

  他有自己的原则，做事很有顾忌。

  Tā yǒu zìjǐ de yuánzé, zuòshì hěn yǒu gùjì. (He has his own principles, so he acts with many scruples.)

• Social norms: They are concerned about breaking unwritten rules or offending others.

  为了不伤害别人的感情，他有所顾忌。

  Wèile bù shānghài biérén de gǎnqíng, tā yǒu suǒ gùjì. (To avoid hurting others' feelings, he had some apprehensions.)