To do things in a perfunctory way, showing a lack of care or responsibility.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Performing tasks carelessly and superficially.
- Lacking responsibility and effort in duties.
- Criticism of a lazy or irresponsible attitude.
Overview
敷衍了事是一个汉语成语，用来形容做事不认真，马马虎虎，只是表面上应付一下，没有尽到应有的责任和努力。它强调的是一种消极、不负责任的工作态度，其结果往往是工作质量不高，甚至可能带来负面影响。这个成语常用于批评那些在工作、学习或生活中不投入、得过且过的人。
敷衍了事通常用作谓语，描述某人或某个群体的行为。它也可以作为定语，修饰不良的工作态度或行为。在使用时，常常带有贬义色彩，用来表达不满或批评。例如，“他对这项工作总是敷衍了事，从不出错才怪。”或者“我们不能对学习敷衍了事，必须认真对待。”
这个成语常见于工作场合，用来评价员工的工作态度；也用于教育领域，批评学生对待学习的态度；在日常生活中，也可以用来形容处理家庭事务或人际关系时不够用心。例如，在项目评审会上，领导可能会批评团队“在前期调研阶段敷衍了事，导致后期问题频发”。在家庭里，父母可能会告诫孩子“做家务不能敷衍了事，要彻底打扫干净”。
与“敷衍了事”相似的词语包括“应付了事”、“得过且过”、“马马虎虎”。“应付了事”与“敷衍了事”意思非常接近，都指不认真对待，只想应付过去。“得过且过”则更侧重于一种随遇而安、不思进取的态度，强调的是不求上进，只求当前安逸。“马马虎虎”形容做事粗心，不仔细，但程度可能比“敷衍了事”要轻一些，有时也可能仅仅指不够精细，不一定包含不负责任的意味。
Examples
他对这份报告的态度总是敷衍了事，细节都没核对。
everydayHis attitude towards this report was always perfunctory; he didn't even check the details.
项目负责人因团队在前期工作中敷衍了事，导致后期出现诸多问题而受到批评。
formalThe project manager was criticized because the team's perfunctory work in the early stages led to numerous problems later on.
别老对做作业敷衍了事，下次老师检查肯定会发现。
informalDon't always do your homework perfunctorily; the teacher will surely find out next time.
研究人员必须避免在实验数据记录上敷衍了事，以确保研究的严谨性。
academicResearchers must avoid being perfunctory in recording experimental data to ensure the rigor of the study.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
别敷衍了事
Don't be perfunctory
他做事总是敷衍了事
He always does things perfunctorily
不能敷衍了事
Cannot be perfunctory
Often Confused With
'得过且过' emphasizes a passive acceptance of the status quo and a lack of ambition, focusing on getting by without striving for improvement. '敷衍了事' specifically refers to the act of doing work carelessly and superficially, often with an intent to deceive or merely get the task done without proper effort.
'马马虎虎' generally describes something done carelessly or sloppily, focusing on the lack of neatness or precision. '敷衍了事' implies a more deliberate lack of effort and responsibility, often with the intention of just meeting minimal requirements rather than doing a good job.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
This phrase is generally used in negative contexts to criticize a lack of diligence or responsibility. It implies that the person is not taking the task seriously and is only doing the bare minimum to get by. Avoid using it to describe your own actions unless you are admitting fault.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse '敷衍了事' with simply being slow or inefficient. However, it specifically denotes a lack of genuine effort and a superficial approach to tasks. It's not about taking a long time, but about not doing the work properly.
Tips
Focus on Quality, Not Just Completion
Always strive for excellence in your tasks. Doing a job well shows respect for the work and for others.
Beware of Superficial Work
Cutting corners or doing the bare minimum can lead to mistakes, lack of trust, and poor outcomes.
The Value of Diligence
In many East Asian cultures, diligence and conscientiousness are highly valued virtues, making '敷衍了事' a particularly unfavorable trait.
Word Origin
The phrase originates from classical Chinese. '敷' means to spread out or apply, '衍' means to overflow or develop, '了' means to finish or end, and '事' means matter or affair. Together, it paints a picture of applying or spreading out a superficial effort to get a matter finished.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, diligence, responsibility, and meticulousness are highly regarded traits, especially in work and study. Therefore, '敷衍了事' is seen as a significant character flaw, reflecting poorly on an individual's work ethic and reliability.
Memory Tip
Imagine someone 'fū' (敷) - spreading things out thinly - and 'yan' (衍) - like a flowing river of excuses - to 'liǎo shì' (了事) - just finish the matter, regardless of quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions这两个词语意思非常接近，都指做事不认真，只想应付过去。“敷衍了事”可能更侧重于表面上的应付和伪装，而“应付了事”则更直接地表达了应付任务、不想深入处理的态度。
“敷衍了事”可以用在各种需要认真对待的场合，比如工作、学习、家庭事务等，通常用来批评那些态度不端正、不认真完成任务的人或行为。
“敷衍了事”是一个贬义词，因为它描述的是一种消极、不负责任的行为，带有明显的批评意味。
要避免“敷衍了事”，首先要端正工作态度，认识到责任的重要性；其次，要制定明确的目标和计划，并认真执行；最后，要注重细节，力求把事情做到最好，而不是仅仅完成任务。
Test Yourself
他对工作总是___，从不出错才怪。
根据句意，空格处应填入一个表示工作态度不认真的词语，‘敷衍了事’符合语境。
下列哪个选项最能描述“敷衍了事”的行为？
“敷衍了事”的核心意思是做事马虎，不认真，草草完成，只求过关，不求深入理解或完美。
请用“敷衍了事”组成一个句子，描述一种不良的学习态度。
这个句子正确地使用了“敷衍了事”来指代不认真的学习态度，并提出了正确的建议。
Score: /3
Summary
To do things in a perfunctory way, showing a lack of care or responsibility.
- Performing tasks carelessly and superficially.
- Lacking responsibility and effort in duties.
- Criticism of a lazy or irresponsible attitude.
Focus on Quality, Not Just Completion
Always strive for excellence in your tasks. Doing a job well shows respect for the work and for others.
Beware of Superficial Work
Cutting corners or doing the bare minimum can lead to mistakes, lack of trust, and poor outcomes.
The Value of Diligence
In many East Asian cultures, diligence and conscientiousness are highly valued virtues, making '敷衍了事' a particularly unfavorable trait.
Examples
4 of 4他对这份报告的态度总是敷衍了事，细节都没核对。
His attitude towards this report was always perfunctory; he didn't even check the details.
项目负责人因团队在前期工作中敷衍了事，导致后期出现诸多问题而受到批评。
The project manager was criticized because the team's perfunctory work in the early stages led to numerous problems later on.
别老对做作业敷衍了事，下次老师检查肯定会发现。
Don't always do your homework perfunctorily; the teacher will surely find out next time.
研究人员必须避免在实验数据记录上敷衍了事，以确保研究的严谨性。
Researchers must avoid being perfunctory in recording experimental data to ensure the rigor of the study.
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