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B2 noun 9 min de lecture

敷衍了事

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敷衍了事 en 30 secondes

  • To do a job carelessly and without real effort.
  • Performing duties superficially, just to finish them.
  • Lacking seriousness and quality in one's work.
  • A negative way to describe someone's poor attitude towards tasks.
The idiom 敷衍了事 (fū yǎn liǎo shì) describes a way of doing things that is characterized by a lack of seriousness, effort, or care. When someone is described as 敷衍了事, it means they are not truly engaged with the task at hand. They might be going through the motions, doing the bare minimum, or simply trying to get the job done quickly without paying attention to quality or detail. This phrase is often used in contexts where responsibility or duty is involved, and the person is failing to meet those expectations adequately. It implies a sense of disinterest, laziness, or even a deliberate attempt to avoid real work. For example, a student might 敷衍了事 on their homework, submitting something that looks like it was done quickly and without much thought. A worker might 敷衍了事 with their reports, providing superficial information that doesn't really address the issues. It's a negative appraisal of someone's work ethic or attitude towards their obligations. The phrase highlights the superficiality of the action, suggesting that it's done merely to check a box or satisfy a requirement, rather than to achieve a genuine outcome or demonstrate competence. It's about the appearance of doing something, rather than the substance of it.
Literal Meaning
To perfunctorily deal with matters.
Connotation
Negative. Implies carelessness, laziness, and a lack of responsibility.

He was told to write a report, but he just 敷衍了事, submitting something that was barely coherent.

The teacher warned the students not to 敷衍了事 with their assignments.

Usage Context
Workplace, school, any situation involving responsibilities and tasks.
The phrase 敷衍了事 (fū yǎn liǎo shì) is a verb phrase that describes an action or a manner of doing things. It typically follows a subject and indicates how that subject performed a task or handled a situation. It can be used in various grammatical constructions, often appearing after a verb indicating the action being performed perfunctorily, or as a description of a person's general attitude. When describing a specific instance, it might be paired with verbs like '做' (zuò - to do), '处理' (chǔlǐ - to handle), or '完成' (wánchéng - to complete). For example, '他做事总是敷衍了事' (Tā zuòshì zǒngshì fūyǎnliǎoshì) means 'He always does things perfunctorily.' If you want to emphasize that someone only did something to get it over with, you could say, '他只是敷衍了事，并没有真正投入' (Tā zhǐshì fūyǎnliǎoshì, bìng méiyǒu zhēnzhèng tóurù), meaning 'He just did it perfunctorily, without truly investing himself.' The phrase can also be used as a predicate, describing the nature of an action. For instance, '这种敷衍了事的态度是不可取的' (Zhè zhǒng fūyǎnliǎoshì de tàidù shì bùkě qǔ de), meaning 'This perfunctory attitude is unacceptable.' It is important to note that 敷衍了事 is always used negatively, to criticize a lack of effort or care. It's not something you would say about a job well done. The object of the action is often implied or can be specified. For example, one might say, '他对这份报告敷衍了事' (Tā duì zhè fèn bàogào fūyǎnliǎoshì), meaning 'He was perfunctory with this report.' The phrase can be preceded by adverbs like '总是' (zǒngshì - always), '经常' (jīngcháng - often), or '只是' (zhǐshì - just), to modify the frequency or intensity of the perfunctory action. It can also be followed by complements that further explain the consequence or nature of the perfunctory action, though this is less common. The core meaning remains consistent: a superficial and careless discharge of duties.
Sentence Structure
Subject + 敷衍了事 + (Object/Context)

The intern was asked to organize the files, but he just 敷衍了事, leaving many out of place.

Common Verbs
做 (zuò), 处理 (chǔlǐ), 完成 (wánchéng), 对待 (duìdài)

Don't 敷衍了事 when it comes to your health; take care of yourself properly.

You'll frequently encounter 敷衍了事 (fū yǎn liǎo shì) in everyday conversations, particularly when people are discussing work, school, or any situation where tasks and responsibilities are involved. It's a common way for people to express dissatisfaction with the quality of someone's work or their attitude towards their duties. For instance, in a workplace setting, a manager might reprimand an employee by saying, 'Your report was very 敷衍了事; I need you to redo it with more detail.' Colleagues might also use it informally to complain about a team member who isn't pulling their weight, perhaps saying, 'He always 敷衍了事, so I have to pick up his slack.' In an academic context, teachers often warn students against this behavior. A teacher might tell a class, 'I can tell when you've just 敷衍了事 on your essays, and it will affect your grades.' Students might also use it among themselves to describe a classmate who is not taking their studies seriously. Beyond formal settings, you might hear it in discussions about household chores or personal projects. If someone is asked to clean the house and they just do a quick, superficial job, their partner might comment, 'You really 敷衍了事 with the cleaning today!' The phrase is also prevalent in online discussions, forums, and social media, where people share their experiences and opinions about various services or products, often criticizing businesses or individuals for providing subpar or 敷衍了事 customer service or products. It's a widely understood expression that clearly conveys a negative judgment about the level of effort and care put into something.
Workplace
Managers to employees about reports, tasks, or projects. Colleagues discussing team members.

My boss said my proposal was too 敷衍了事.

Education
Teachers to students about homework or assignments. Students discussing classmates.

He only 敷衍了事 on his essay.

Social Settings
Discussing household chores, personal favors, or community responsibilities.
One common mistake learners make is misinterpreting 敷衍了事 (fū yǎn liǎo shì) as a neutral term or even a positive one, perhaps confusing it with efficiency. However, it is fundamentally a negative expression used to criticize a lack of effort and care. Another mistake is using it interchangeably with words that mean 'to do quickly.' While perfunctory work is often done quickly, the core meaning of 敷衍了事 lies in the superficiality and carelessness, not just the speed. For instance, saying 'He finished the task quickly' is neutral, but saying 'He 敷衍了事 with the task' implies the quality was poor. Learners might also struggle with the nuance of '了' (liǎo) in this idiom. While it indicates completion, here it emphasizes the completion of a task in a superficial manner, rather than a job done well. A related error is to use it when a task was genuinely difficult or impossible to complete well due to external factors. 敷衍了事 implies a lack of willingness or effort from the doer, not an unavoidable outcome. For example, if a project failed due to unforeseen budget cuts, it's not 敷衍了事; it's a project failure. However, if the person responsible for managing the budget simply ignored the problem and did nothing, that could be considered 敷衍了事. Finally, some learners might try to use it to describe situations where someone is being overly diligent or meticulous. This is the opposite of the idiom's meaning. 敷衍了事 is about doing too little, not too much. It's crucial to remember that this phrase always carries a critical tone, pointing to a deficiency in effort, attention, or sincerity.
Mistake 1: Neutral Interpretation
Treating 敷衍了事 as simply meaning 'to finish a task' without the negative connotation of carelessness.
Mistake 2: Confusing with Speed
Equating 敷衍了事 with 'doing something quickly,' overlooking the core meaning of superficiality and lack of quality.

Incorrect: He worked fast, so he did 敷衍了事.

Correct: He did 敷衍了事, which is why the quality was poor.

Mistake 3: Misunderstanding '了'
Assuming '了' always means a well-completed action, rather than a perfunctorily completed one in this context.
When you want to express the idea of doing something carelessly or without proper effort, several words and phrases can be used, each with slightly different nuances. 敷衍了事 (fū yǎn liǎo shì) is quite specific in its meaning of performing duties in a perfunctory manner. A more general term for being careless is 马虎 (mǎhu), which means careless, sloppy, or negligent. While 马虎 can overlap with 敷衍了事, 马虎 might refer to general sloppiness in any action, whereas 敷衍了事 specifically relates to how one handles responsibilities or tasks, often implying a lack of commitment. For example, you could say someone's handwriting is 马虎, but it's more fitting to say their work attitude is 敷衍了事. Another related term is 凑合 (còuhe), which means to make do or get by. It implies a compromise and a less-than-ideal outcome, often due to limitations or necessity. You might 凑合着用 (còuhe zhe yòng - make do with it) if you don't have a better option. 敷衍了事 is more about actively doing something poorly out of disinterest, rather than making do with circumstances. A stronger term for being lazy or doing things half-heartedly is 懒散 (lǎnsǎn). It describes a lazy and undisciplined attitude. While a 懒散 person might 敷衍了事, 懒散 is a broader descriptor of their overall demeanor. If you want to emphasize that someone is just going through the motions without real engagement, you can use 走过场 (zǒu guò chǎng), which literally means 'to go through the motions' or 'to go through a formality.' This is very close in meaning to 敷衍了事, focusing on the superficiality of the action. For example, 'His speech was just 走过场' is similar to saying 'He gave a perfunctory speech.' However, 敷衍了事 often implies a more deliberate lack of effort in fulfilling a duty, while 走过场 can sometimes be used for situations that are inherently ceremonial or routine. Finally, for a very strong criticism of dishonesty or insincerity in handling matters, one might use 欺骗 (qīpiàn - to deceive) or 弄虚作假 (nòng xū zuò jiǎ - to practice fraud). These are much more serious and imply intentional deception, which is beyond the scope of simply being perfunctory.
马虎 (mǎhu)
Careless, sloppy. More general than 敷衍了事, can apply to physical actions or general demeanor.
凑合 (còuhe)
To make do, to get by. Implies a compromise or less-than-ideal solution, often due to limitations.
走过场 (zǒu guò chǎng)
To go through the motions, to go through a formality. Very close to 敷衍了事, emphasizing superficiality.
懒散 (lǎnsǎn)
Lazy, sluggish. Describes a person's general attitude and behavior.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The character 敷 (fū) can also mean 'to apply' or 'to spread,' as in '敷药' (fū yào - to apply medicine). The character 衍 (yǎn) can mean 'to develop' or 'to overflow.' Their combination in 敷衍 implies a superficial spreading or development of something, without depth or thoroughness. The character 了 (liǎo) in 了事 indicates completion, but in this idiom, it signifies the completion of a task in a less-than-ideal way.

Guide de prononciation

UK /fʊ jɛn li̯ɑʊ ʂɨ/
US /fʊ jɛn li̯ɑʊ ʂɨ/
The primary stress in Mandarin Chinese is carried by the tone of each syllable, rather than a specific stressed syllable in the way English words have stressed syllables. Each syllable has its own tone: fū (first tone), yǎn (third tone), liǎo (third tone), shì (fourth tone).

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 3/5

Recognizing the idiom and its negative connotation is key. Understanding the context in which it's used is important for full comprehension.

Écriture 3/5

Using it correctly requires understanding the nuance and avoiding confusion with similar terms. Applying it appropriately in different registers is also a challenge.

Expression orale 3/5

Pronunciation, especially tones, is crucial. Using it naturally in conversation requires practice and a good grasp of its negative implications.

Écoute 3/5

Distinguishing it from similar-sounding or related phrases can be difficult, especially in fast speech.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

做 (zuò - to do) 事 (shì - matter, affair) 认真 (rènzhēn - serious, conscientious) 完成 (wánchéng - to complete) 态度 (tàidù - attitude)

Apprends ensuite

敷衍塞责 (fūyǎn sèzé) 得过且过 (déguòjiěguò) 一丝不苟 (yīsībùgǒu) 尽心尽力 (jìnxīnjìnlì)

Avancé

心不在焉 (xīnbùzàiyān - absent-minded) 应付差事 (yìngfù chāishì - to do something merely to go through the motions) 得过且过 (déguòjiěguò - to get by, to muddle along)

Grammaire à connaître

Using '地' (de) to form adverbs.

He completed the report perfunctorily: 他敷衍了事地完成了报告 (Tā fūyǎnliǎoshì de wánchéngle bàogào).

Using '的' (de) to form attributive phrases.

This perfunctory attitude is unacceptable: 这种敷衍了事的态度是不可接受的 (Zhè zhǒng fūyǎnliǎoshì de tàidù shì bùkě jiēshòu de).

Verb-complement structure.

His answer seemed perfunctory: 他的回答显得敷衍了事 (Tā de huídá xiǎnde fūyǎnliǎoshì).

Prepositional phrases with '对' (duì).

He is perfunctory towards his work: 他对工作敷衍了事 (Tā duì gōngzuò fūyǎnliǎoshì).

Imperative sentences.

Don't be perfunctory!: 别敷衍了事! (Bié fūyǎnliǎoshì!)

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Exemples par niveau

1

他只是敷衍了事，没有好好做。

He just did it perfunctorily, didn't do it well.

2

这份报告写得很敷衍。

This report was written very perfunctorily.

3

别敷衍了事，认真点。

Don't be perfunctory, be serious.

1

他总是对工作敷衍了事，老板很不满意。

He is always perfunctory about his work, the boss is very dissatisfied.

2

这次的清洁工作有些敷衍。

This time the cleaning work was a bit perfunctory.

3

他只是敷衍了事地回答了我的问题。

He just answered my question perfunctorily.

Use '地' (de) to form an adverbial phrase.

1

尽管任务很枯燥，我们也应该认真完成，而不是敷衍了事。

Although the task is tedious, we should still complete it seriously, rather than doing it perfunctorily.

2

他对待这份合同的态度过于敷衍了事，导致了后来的麻烦。

His attitude towards this contract was too perfunctory, leading to later trouble.

3

不能因为时间紧迫就敷衍了事，质量才是最重要的。

We cannot be perfunctory just because time is tight; quality is the most important thing.

1

他总是以一种敷衍了事的方式来处理客户的投诉，这让他失去了不少生意。

He always handles customer complaints in a perfunctory manner, which has caused him to lose a lot of business.

2

这种敷衍了事的态度在学术界是不可容忍的，需要严谨和负责。

This perfunctory attitude is intolerable in academia, which requires rigor and responsibility.

3

即使是简单的任务，我们也应该尽力而为，而不是敷衍了事，以免留下隐患。

Even for simple tasks, we should do our best, not be perfunctory, to avoid leaving hidden dangers.

1

管理层对项目进展的评估过于乐观，似乎没有意识到团队中存在的敷衍了事现象。

Management's assessment of the project's progress is too optimistic, seemingly unaware of the perfunctory phenomena within the team.

2

他试图用一套华而不实的说辞来掩盖其敷衍了事的行为，但听众很快就看穿了。

He tried to cover up his perfunctory behavior with a set of flashy but empty words, but the audience quickly saw through it.

3

在追求效率的同时，我们必须警惕不要让敷衍了事成为常态。

While pursuing efficiency, we must be vigilant not to let perfunctory actions become the norm.

1

这种系统性的敷衍了事，并非源于个体的懒惰，而是组织文化中某种缺失的体现。

This systemic perfunctory approach does not stem from individual laziness but is a manifestation of some deficiency in organizational culture.

2

公众对政府部门的信任度下降，很大程度上归咎于其在处理民生问题时所表现出的敷衍了事。

The public's trust in government departments has declined, largely due to the perfunctory attitude shown when handling public welfare issues.

3

他以一种近乎艺术的敷衍了事，将一项本应严谨的调查处理得草草收场。

He handled a supposedly rigorous investigation to a hasty conclusion with an almost artistic perfunctoriness.

Collocations courantes

敷衍了事地完成
对待工作敷衍了事
这种敷衍了事的态度
不要敷衍了事
显得敷衍了事
对...敷衍了事
把事情敷衍了事
过于敷衍了事
有点敷衍了事
纯粹是敷衍了事

Phrases Courantes

做事敷衍了事

— To do things in a perfunctory manner. This phrase describes the general way someone handles tasks or responsibilities.

他做事总是敷衍了事，所以很少有项目能成功。

工作敷衍了事

— To be perfunctory about one's work. This specifically refers to the attitude and execution of one's job.

老板发现他对待工作敷衍了事，于是对他进行了批评。

回答敷衍了事

— To give a perfunctory answer. This implies the answer was given without much thought or sincerity, just to end the conversation or avoid giving a real response.

当被问到细节时，他只是敷衍了事地回答了几个词。

态度敷衍了事

— To have a perfunctory attitude. This describes a general lack of seriousness and commitment towards something.

他对这次的培训课程态度敷衍了事，所以学不到什么东西。

写得敷衍了事

— To write something in a perfunctory manner. This often refers to written work like reports, essays, or emails that lack depth and care.

这篇论文写得敷衍了事，充满了错误和不严谨的论证。

Souvent confondu avec

敷衍了事 vs 马虎 (mǎhu)

While both imply carelessness, 马虎 is more general and can refer to any kind of sloppiness, whereas 敷衍了事 specifically relates to performing duties or tasks in a perfunctory manner, often with a lack of sincerity or commitment to quality.

敷衍了事 vs 得过且过 (déguòjiěguò)

得过且过 describes a general attitude of not striving for improvement and just getting by. 敷衍了事 is more about the specific way a task is executed – superficially and without proper effort.

敷衍了事 vs 应付 (yìngfu)

应付 can mean to deal with or cope with, and sometimes implies a superficial handling. However, it can also mean simply managing a difficult situation. 敷衍了事 is more strongly negative, indicating a deliberate lack of effort and care in fulfilling a duty.

Expressions idiomatiques

"敷衍塞责"

— This is a very similar idiom to 敷衍了事. It means to perform one's duty in a perfunctory way and to shirk responsibility. '塞责' specifically means to shirk responsibility or duty. Both describe a negative attitude towards work.

他被指控敷衍塞责，未能及时处理客户的紧急请求。

Formal
"得过且过"

— This idiom means to get by, to muddle along, or to live from day to day without ambition or effort. It's about being content with the status quo and not striving for improvement. While it shares the idea of lacking effort, 敷衍了事 is more about the superficial execution of tasks, whereas 得过且过 is a broader life philosophy of not making an effort.

他抱着得过且过的心态，不愿意接受挑战。

Common
"应付差事"

— To do something merely to go through the motions or to fulfill an obligation without genuine interest or effort. It's very close to 敷衍了事, emphasizing the act of just 'getting it done' to satisfy a requirement.

他只是应付差事，并没有真正投入到这个项目中。

Common
"敷衍了事"

— To perform one's duties in a perfunctory manner. This is the phrase we are focusing on, meaning to do something carelessly and superficially.

他总是敷衍了事，从不认真对待自己的工作。

Common
"马马虎虎"

— This is an adjective meaning careless, sloppy, or so-so. It is often used to describe the quality of work or a person's general approach. While 敷衍了事 describes the act of doing something perfunctorily, 马马虎虎 describes the resulting state or the general lack of care.

他的报告写得马马虎虎，有很多错误。

Informal

Facile à confondre

敷衍了事 vs 马虎 (mǎhu)

Both words describe a lack of care or attention to detail.

马虎 is a general term for carelessness or sloppiness. It can describe anything from messy handwriting to a general lack of attention. 敷衍了事 is more specific to the act of performing duties or tasks in a superficial and perfunctory manner, often with the intention of just getting them done without genuine effort or quality. For example, one might say 'His handwriting is 马虎' (sloppy), but 'His report was 敷衍了事' (done carelessly to get it over with).

他做事马马虎虎，报告也写得敷衍了事。

敷衍了事 vs 应付 (yìngfu)

Both terms can imply a superficial handling of a situation or task.

应付 means to deal with, cope with, or manage. It can imply a superficial handling, but it can also mean successfully managing a difficult situation or task. 敷衍了事 specifically means to perform a duty in a perfunctory way, lacking sincerity and effort, primarily to satisfy an obligation. It carries a stronger negative connotation of deliberate carelessness and lack of commitment than 应付.

他只是应付一下，并没有认真对待这份工作，显得敷衍了事。

敷衍了事 vs 潦草 (liáocǎo)

Both describe a lack of neatness or care in execution.

潦草 specifically describes something that is written or drawn hastily and carelessly, resulting in a messy or illegible appearance. It focuses on the visual outcome of being rushed. 敷衍了事 refers to the attitude and manner of performing a task, indicating a lack of effort and seriousness, which might result in something 潦草, but it's not limited to just messy writing. It's about the overall perfunctory approach to a duty.

他的笔记写得很潦草，因为他对课程内容敷衍了事。

敷衍了事 vs 凑合 (còuhe)

Both can result in a less-than-ideal outcome.

凑合 means to make do, to get by, or to accept something that is not ideal, often due to limitations or lack of better options. It implies a compromise. 敷衍了事, on the other hand, is about actively doing something in a careless and superficial way, often out of disinterest or laziness, rather than making do with circumstances. You might 凑合着用 (make do with it) if you don't have a better tool, but you 敷衍了事 (perfunctorily do the job) if you don't care about the quality.

这个工具用起来有点凑合，但如果你敷衍了事地使用，结果会更糟。

敷衍了事 vs 认真 (rènzhēn)

It's the antonym, so understanding it helps define 敷衍了事 by contrast.

认真 means to be serious, conscientious, and diligent. It implies putting in full effort and attention to detail to achieve quality. 敷衍了事 is the direct opposite, describing a lack of seriousness, minimal effort, and superficial execution of duties. While 认真 aims for excellence, 敷衍了事 aims only for completion.

他做事总是敷衍了事，而她做事非常认真。

Structures de phrases

Basic

Subject + 敷衍了事。

他敷衍了事。

Basic

Noun + 写得/做得 + 敷衍了事。

报告写得敷衍了事。

Intermediate

Subject + 对 + Noun + 敷衍了事。

他对学习敷衍了事。

Intermediate

Subject + 只是/总是 + 敷衍了事。

他总是敷衍了事。

Intermediate

不要 + 敷衍了事。

不要敷衍了事。

Advanced

Subject + 这样做/那样做 + 纯粹是 + 敷衍了事。

他这样做纯粹是敷衍了事。

Advanced

Subject + 显得 + 敷衍了事。

他的回答显得敷衍了事。

Advanced

Subject + 敷衍了事 + 地 + Verb。

他敷衍了事地完成了任务。

Famille de mots

Verbes

敷衍 (fūyǎn) - to say or do something perfunctorily; to make excuses
了事 (liǎo shì) - to finish matters; to get things done

Apparenté

敷衍塞责 (fūyǎn sèzé) - to perform duties perfunctorily and shirk responsibility
应付 (yìngfu) - to deal with, to cope with
马虎 (mǎhu) - careless, sloppy
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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

High

Erreurs courantes
  • Using 敷衍了事 to describe general sloppiness. → Using 马虎 (mǎhu) or 潦草 (liáocǎo) for general sloppiness.

    敷衍了事 specifically refers to the perfunctory execution of duties or tasks, often implying a lack of sincerity or commitment, rather than just general messiness or carelessness. For example, messy handwriting is 马虎, but a report written with minimal effort just to submit it is 敷衍了事.

  • Confusing 敷衍了事 with efficiency. → Understanding that efficiency implies quality and effectiveness, while 敷衍了事 implies low quality and superficiality.

    Someone who is efficient completes tasks well and promptly. Someone who is 敷衍了事 completes tasks superficially, often with poor results. Speed alone does not make an action 敷衍了事, but the lack of care and quality does.

  • Using 敷衍了事 to describe someone who is trying their best but struggling. → Using phrases like '尽力了' (jìn lì le - tried their best) or describing the challenges faced.

    敷衍了事 implies a deliberate lack of effort or care. If someone is genuinely trying their best but the outcome is not perfect due to external factors or limitations, it is not 敷衍了事. This term criticizes the attitude and effort of the doer.

  • Mispronouncing the tones, especially the consecutive third tones. → Practicing the correct tones: fū (1st), yǎn (3rd), liǎo (3rd), shì (4th).

    Incorrect tones can change the meaning of syllables or the entire idiom, leading to miscommunication. The sequence of yǎn (3rd) and liǎo (3rd) requires careful pronunciation to avoid sounding unnatural or incorrect.

  • Using 敷衍了事 in a positive or neutral context. → Always using 敷衍了事 to express criticism or dissatisfaction.

    This idiom is inherently negative. It is never used to praise or neutrally describe an action. It always implies fault or deficiency in the execution of a task or duty.

Astuces

Negative Connotation

Always remember that 敷衍了事 carries a negative meaning. It's used to criticize a lack of effort and care. Avoid using it when describing work that is done well, even if it was done quickly.

Mastering the Tones

The tones are crucial for understanding and using 敷衍了事 correctly. Practice the four tones: fū (1st), yǎn (3rd), liǎo (3rd), shì (4th). Pay special attention to the two consecutive third tones in 'yǎn liǎo'.

Situational Awareness

Use 敷衍了事 in contexts where responsibilities and tasks are involved, such as work, school, or even household chores. It's a common way to express dissatisfaction with performance.

Distinguishing from Similar Words

Understand the subtle differences between 敷衍了事 and words like 马虎 (mǎhu - careless) or 应付 (yìngfu - to deal with). 敷衍了事 specifically implies a perfunctory fulfillment of duties.

Visual Association

Create a mental image of someone throwing a task away carelessly. This visual can help you recall the meaning of doing something 'just to get it done' without proper effort.

Adverbial Use

You can use '地' (de) to turn 敷衍了事 into an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb. For example, 'He completed the report 敷衍了事地' (Tā fūyǎnliǎoshì de wánchéngle bàogào).

Opposite Meanings

Learning the antonyms like 认真 (rènzhēn - serious) or 一丝不苟 (yīsībùgǒu - meticulous) can help solidify the meaning of 敷衍了事 by understanding what it is not.

Sentence Creation

Try writing your own sentences using 敷衍了事 in different contexts to practice its application. For instance, describe a time you felt a service was 敷衍了事.

Cultural Value

Recognize that diligence and responsibility are highly valued in Chinese culture, making 敷衍了事 a significant criticism.

Expressing Disapproval

Use 敷衍了事 when you want to clearly express disapproval of someone's careless or superficial approach to their duties.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Imagine someone 'foo'lishly 'yǎn's (eyes) a task, 'liǎo' (already) done, just 'shì' (this) way. They're just looking at it and finishing it quickly without real effort.

Association visuelle

Picture someone throwing a report into a trash can with a lazy shrug. The report is 'done' (了事), but it's clearly not done properly (敷衍).

Word Web

Careless Superficial Lack of effort Perfunctory Responsibility Tasks Duties Criticism

Défi

Try to find examples of 敷衍了事 in movies or TV shows and explain why the character's actions fit the description.

Origine du mot

The idiom 敷衍了事 is composed of two parts: 敷衍 (fūyǎn) and 了事 (liǎo shì). 敷衍 originally meant to spread or elaborate, but over time it came to mean to say or do something superficially to get by or to make excuses. 了事 means to finish matters or to get things done. Together, they describe the act of finishing matters in a superficial and careless manner.

Sens originel : To spread out and finish matters.

Sino-Tibetan

Contexte culturel

While the phrase is critical, it's generally used to describe behavior rather than inherently attack a person's character, unless the behavior is persistent. It's a common and accepted way to give feedback.

In English-speaking cultures, similar concepts exist like 'slacking off,' 'going through the motions,' or 'doing a half-assed job.' The negative connotation of not putting in full effort is universal.

The idiom is frequently used in Chinese literature and historical accounts to describe officials or individuals who failed in their duties. Modern Chinese media, including news reports and social commentary, often employs this idiom to critique public services or corporate behavior. It's a staple in educational discourse, used by teachers to warn students against poor academic habits.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Workplace performance review

  • 你的工作有些敷衍了事。
  • 我们需要你更认真地对待这个项目。
  • 请避免敷衍了事的态度。

Discussing student homework

  • 这篇论文写得太敷衍了事了。
  • 老师说不能敷衍了事。
  • 他总是敷衍了事地完成作业。

Customer service complaints

  • 他们的服务太敷衍了事了！
  • 我对这次的维修感到敷衍了事。
  • 希望下次不会再遇到敷衍了事的情况。

Personal responsibilities (e.g., chores)

  • 你打扫卫生有点敷衍了事。
  • 别敷衍了事，好好做完。
  • 我不想敷衍了事地对待家务。

General criticism of effort

  • 他做事总是敷衍了事。
  • 这种敷衍了事的行为是不可接受的。
  • 不要敷衍了事，要尽力而为。

Amorces de conversation

"Have you ever felt like you had to 敷衍了事 on a task, and how did it turn out?"

"What are some signs that someone is 敷衍了事 with their work?"

"How can we encourage people to avoid 敷衍了事 and be more diligent?"

"When is it acceptable to 敷衍了事, or is it never okay?"

"Can you think of a time when you received service that felt very 敷衍了事?"

Sujets d'écriture

Reflect on a time you were criticized for being 敷衍了事. What was the situation, and what did you learn from it?

Describe a task you find particularly tedious. How do you ensure you don't 敷衍了事 when doing it?

Think about the difference between efficiency and 敷衍了事. Where is the line, and how do you maintain it?

Consider a time you observed someone else being 敷衍了事. How did it affect you or the situation?

What are the long-term consequences of a habit of 敷衍了事 in one's personal or professional life?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

The literal meaning of 敷衍了事 is to 'perfunctorily deal with matters' or 'finish affairs carelessly.' 敷衍 (fūyǎn) means to do something superficially or to make excuses, and 了事 (liǎo shì) means to finish matters or get things done. Together, they convey the idea of completing tasks without proper effort or care.

Yes, 敷衍了事 is always a negative term used to criticize someone's lack of effort, seriousness, or care in performing duties or tasks. It implies that the job was done poorly and without genuine engagement. You would never use it to praise someone's work.

Absolutely. While often used in professional or academic contexts, 敷衍了事 can be applied to any task or responsibility, including household chores, personal projects, or even social obligations, if they are performed in a careless and superficial manner.

Efficiency is about completing tasks quickly and effectively, often with good results. 敷衍了事 is about completing tasks superficially and carelessly, often with poor results. An efficient person uses their time well, while a person who is 敷衍了事 might be quick, but their work lacks quality and depth.

You can use '地' (de) to form an adverbial phrase. For example, 'He completed the task perfunctorily' would be '他敷衍了事地完成了任务' (Tā fūyǎnliǎoshì de wánchéngle rènwù). This structure modifies the verb '完成' (wánchéng - to complete) by describing how the task was completed.

While the phrase itself is negative, there might be situations where the *necessity* to 'just get it done' overrides the expectation of high quality due to extreme time constraints or resource limitations. However, if the action is still done carelessly and without any regard for even basic quality, it would likely still be considered 敷衍了事. The key is the lack of genuine effort and care.

Similar phrases include 马虎 (mǎhu - careless), 走过场 (zǒu guò chǎng - to go through the motions), and 应付差事 (yìngfù chāishì - to do something merely to fulfill an obligation). Each has slightly different nuances, but they all touch upon the idea of superficiality or lack of genuine effort.

To avoid being perceived as 敷衍了事, focus on being diligent, attentive to detail, and taking responsibility for your tasks. Always aim to do your best, even for simple jobs, and communicate clearly about your progress and any challenges you face. Showing genuine engagement and commitment is key.

The tone is almost always critical, disapproving, or frustrated. It's used to express dissatisfaction with the quality of work or the attitude of the person performing it.

Yes, it can. If an artist or writer produces work that is clearly lacking in effort, originality, or care, it could be described as 敷衍了事. For example, a poorly written script or a hastily painted piece could be called 敷衍了事.

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