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A2 noun #4,500 most common 9 min read

幽默感

yōumò gǎn Top 4,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 幽默感 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 幽默感 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you just need to know that '幽默感' (yōumògǎn) means 'sense of humor.' It is a noun. You use it with the verb '有' (yǒu - to have). If you want to say someone is funny, you can say '他很有幽默感' (He has a lot of sense of humor). This is a great compliment to give to your new Chinese friends! Think of it as three parts: 幽 (quiet) + 默 (silent) + 感 (feeling). Together, they mean the feeling of humor. Don't worry about the history yet, just remember the phrase '很有幽默感'.

At the A2 level, you should start using '幽默感' in more descriptive sentences. You know that '感' means 'sense,' so you can see how this word fits with others like '安全感' (sense of security). You should be able to say '我喜欢有幽默感的人' (I like people who have a sense of humor). You can also use '没有' to say someone lacks it: '他没有幽默感' (He doesn't have a sense of humor). Remember, it's a noun! Don't say '他很幽默感'—that's like saying 'He is very sense of humor' in English.

By B1, you can use '幽默感' to discuss personality traits in more detail. You might use words like '缺乏' (quēfá - to lack) instead of just '没有'. For example: '幽默感在人际关系中很重要' (A sense of humor is very important in interpersonal relationships). You can also start to modify the noun: '独特的幽默感' (a unique sense of humor) or '优秀的幽默感' (an excellent sense of humor). You're moving beyond simple compliments to discussing the role of humor in life.

At the B2 level, you can understand the cultural nuances of '幽默感'. You might know that the word was created by Lin Yutang to translate the Western concept of 'humor.' You can use it in complex sentences: '尽管他面临很多困难，但他依然保持着乐观和幽默感' (Despite facing many difficulties, he still maintains optimism and a sense of humor). You can also distinguish it from '搞笑' (slapstick funny) or '风趣' (witty/charming) in social contexts.

At the C1 level, you can use '幽默感' in literary or academic discussions. You might talk about the '黑色幽默感' (sense of black humor) in a novel or the '冷幽默感' (sense of dry humor) of a specific director. You can analyze how '幽默感' functions as a social lubricant in Chinese business culture or how it has evolved from traditional '相声' (crosstalk) to modern stand-up comedy. Your usage should be precise and varied, using verbs like '富有' (rich in) or '极具' (possessing to a high degree).

At the C2 level, you have a masterly grasp of '幽默感'. You can discuss its philosophical implications, perhaps referencing Lin Yutang's original essays on why China needed 'humor' to modernize. You can effortlessly use it in any register, from high-level literary criticism to subtle social banter. You understand the deep connection between '幽默' (the quiet/silent transliteration) and the traditional Chinese value of '含蓄' (reticence/subtlety), and how a 'sense of humor' bridges these concepts.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

幽默感 in 30 Seconds

幽默感 (yōumògǎn) translates to 'sense of humor.' It is a noun used to describe the ability to appreciate or create humor in social contexts.
The word is a mix of a phonetic transliteration (幽默 - humor) and the Chinese suffix for 'sense' or 'feeling' (感).
Grammatically, it is usually paired with '有' (have) or '缺乏' (lack). It is never used as a standalone adjective like 'humorous.'
Culturally, it is a highly valued trait in modern China, associated with intelligence, emotional maturity, and social charm.

The term 幽默感 (yōumògǎn) is a fascinating linguistic bridge between East and West. At its core, it translates to 'sense of humor.' However, its history and usage in the Chinese language offer a deep look into how modern Mandarin absorbs foreign concepts. The first two characters, 幽默 (yōumò), are a phonetic transliteration of the English word 'humor.' This transliteration was popularized by the famous Chinese writer and linguist Lin Yutang in the 1920s. Before this, Chinese had words for being funny or witty, such as 滑稽 (huájī), but Lin felt these terms often implied a level of buffoonery or low-class slapstick. He wanted a term that captured the subtle, intellectual, and philosophical nature of Western 'humor,' thus '幽默' was born. The final character, 感 (gǎn), means 'sense,' 'feeling,' or 'perception,' turning the adjective into a noun representing the internal faculty of appreciating or creating humor.

Social Currency: In modern Chinese society, having a 'sense of humor' is considered a highly desirable personality trait. It is frequently cited in dating profiles and job descriptions as a sign of emotional intelligence (EQ) and social flexibility. Unlike being 'funny' (搞笑), which might just mean making people laugh, having 幽默感 implies a certain level of sophistication and the ability to find lightness in difficult situations.
The 'Sense' Suffix: The character 感 is extremely productive in Chinese. By understanding 幽默感, you unlock a pattern: 安全感 (ānquángǎn - sense of security), 责任感 (zérèngǎn - sense of responsibility), and 信任感 (xìnrèngǎn - sense of trust). It always refers to an abstract internal feeling or quality.

他是一个富有幽默感的人，总能让大家开心。(He is a person full of a sense of humor, always able to make everyone happy.)

When using this word, it is important to note that it is almost always preceded by verbs like '有' (to have), '缺乏' (to lack), or '充满' (to be full of). It is a noun, not an adjective. You wouldn't say 'He is very sense of humor'; you would say 'He has a lot of sense of humor' (他很有幽默感). This distinction is a common hurdle for English speakers who are used to the word 'humorous' being an adjective. In Chinese, while you can say '他很幽默' (He is very humorous), adding the '感' shifts the focus to the inherent quality or the 'vibe' the person carries.

你的幽默感真的很独特。(Your sense of humor is truly unique.)

Culturally, the concept of humor in China has evolved. Historically, Confucian ideals emphasized 'gravity' and 'decorum,' which sometimes pushed humor to the sidelines of formal literature. However, folk traditions like 相声 (xiàngsheng) or 'crosstalk' have always kept humor alive. Today, with the rise of stand-up comedy (脱口秀) in cities like Shanghai and Beijing, the term 幽默感 is used more than ever to describe the ability to observe life's absurdities and articulate them in a way that resonates with others.

Using 幽默感 correctly requires understanding its role as a noun. In English, we often use 'humorous' (adjective) and 'sense of humor' (noun phrase) interchangeably depending on the sentence structure. In Chinese, 幽默感 is strictly the noun. Let's look at the primary grammatical patterns that involve this word.

Pattern 1: [Subject] + 很/非常 + 有 + 幽默感: This is the most common way to say someone has a sense of humor. Example: '我的老师非常有幽默感' (My teacher has a great sense of humor). The word '有' (to have) is essential here.
Pattern 2: [Subject] + 缺乏 + 幽默感: When someone is too serious or 'dry,' we use the verb 缺乏 (quēfá - to lack). Example: '他这人什么都好，就是缺乏幽默感' (He's good in every way, he just lacks a sense of humor).

我们需要一个有幽默感的领导。(We need a leader with a sense of humor.)

Another important usage is in comparisons. When you want to say one person's sense of humor is better than another's, you treat 幽默感 as the object of the comparison. For instance, '他的幽默感比我强' (His sense of humor is stronger than mine). Note that we use '强' (strong) or '好' (good) to describe the quality of the sense of humor.

他的幽默感化解了尴尬的局面。(His sense of humor diffused the awkward situation.)

In more advanced contexts, you might see it paired with '富有' (fùyǒu - to be rich in). This is a more formal and literary way to describe someone. '他是一位富有幽默感的作家' (He is a writer rich in a sense of humor). This emphasizes that the humor is a deep-seated part of their character or work. Furthermore, you can describe types of humor: '黑色幽默感' (sense of black humor/dark humor) or '冷幽默感' (sense of dry/cold humor).

You will encounter 幽默感 in a variety of modern Chinese contexts, from casual dating to professional evaluations. It is a 'high-frequency' personality descriptor in the 21st century.

Dating and Social Apps: On apps like Tantan or Soul (Chinese equivalents to Tinder), '幽默感' is one of the most sought-after qualities. You'll see phrases like '希望对方有幽默感' (Hope the other person has a sense of humor) or '自认为很有幽默感' (Think of myself as having a great sense of humor). It's seen as a sign of being easy-going and fun to be around.
Entertainment and Media: In variety shows (综艺节目) and interviews, hosts often praise guests by saying they have a 'strong sense of humor.' When a celebrity handles a difficult question with a joke, the comments on Weibo (Chinese Twitter) will likely say, 'XX的幽默感绝了' (XX's sense of humor is amazing).

面试官很欣赏他的幽默感。(The interviewer really appreciated his sense of humor.)

In the workplace, while Chinese culture can be hierarchical and formal, a leader with 幽默感 is often viewed as more approachable and modern. It is used in performance reviews or feedback to describe someone's soft skills. If a colleague can lighten the mood during a high-pressure meeting, they are said to have '幽默感'.

电影里的那个角色非常有幽默感。(That character in the movie has a very strong sense of humor.)

Finally, in literature and film criticism, 幽默感 is used to describe the tone of a work. A book might be described as having a 'unique sense of humor' (独特的幽默感) if it uses irony or satire to make a point. This shows that the word isn't just for people, but for any creative expression that possesses the quality of humor.

Even though 幽默感 is a loanword concept, its grammatical integration into Chinese follows strict rules that learners often trip over. Here are the most frequent errors.

Mistake 1: Treating it as an Adjective: Learners often say '他很幽默感' (He is very sense of humor). Correct: '他很有幽默感' (He has a lot of sense of humor) or simply '他很幽默' (He is very humorous). The '感' makes it a noun, requiring the verb '有' (to have).
Mistake 2: Confusing 'Sense of Humor' with 'Funny': Sometimes learners use 幽默感 when they mean 搞笑 (gǎoxiào). 搞笑 means 'funny' in a more slapstick or direct way. 幽默感 is a deeper personality trait. If a clown makes you laugh by falling down, he is 搞笑, but he might not necessarily have 幽默感.

错误: 他是一个幽默感的人。
正确: 他是一个很有幽默感的人。(He is a very [sense of humor] person vs He is a person with a lot of sense of humor.)

Another subtle mistake is using the wrong measure word or quantifier. While '幽默感' is an abstract noun and usually doesn't need a measure word, if you want to say 'a bit of', you should use '一点' or '些'. For example, '增加一点幽默感' (add a bit of sense of humor). Don't use '一个' unless you are specifically referring to 'a type of' sense of humor (一种幽默感).

缺乏幽默感会让生活变得枯燥。(Lacking a sense of humor will make life boring.)

Finally, pay attention to the intensity. You can say '极具幽默感' (possessing an extreme sense of humor) in formal writing, but in casual speech, stick to '很有' or '特别有'. Over-complicating the sentence structure around this word is a common mistake for intermediate learners who try to translate English idioms like 'tickle my funny bone' directly into Chinese. Stick to the '有' and '缺乏' patterns for the most natural sound.

Mandarin has several ways to describe being funny or having wit. Understanding the nuances between 幽默感 and its cousins will help you sound more like a native speaker.

风趣 (fēngqù): Often paired as '风趣幽默'. 风趣 leans more towards 'witty' or 'charming.' It suggests a person who is not just funny, but also elegant and clever with their words. It's a very high compliment.
搞笑 (gǎoxiào): Literally 'making a laugh.' This is more about 'funny' in a comedic or even silly sense. A funny video is 搞笑, but you wouldn't usually say a video has '幽默感'.
有趣 (yǒuqù): Meaning 'interesting' or 'amusing.' This is a broader term. An interesting book is 有趣. A person who is fun to talk to is 有趣. It doesn't necessarily mean they are making jokes.

他说话很风趣，非常有幽默感。(He speaks very wittily and has a great sense of humor.)

In slang, you might hear the term 逗比 (dòubǐ). This is a very informal (and slightly teasing) way to call someone a 'funny person' or a 'dork' who does silly things to make people laugh. It's much less formal than saying someone has '幽默感' and is usually used among friends. Another slang term is 段子手 (duànzishǒu), which refers to someone who is very good at writing or telling short, funny jokes (段子), often on social media.

虽然他很搞笑，但我觉得他缺乏真正的幽默感。(Although he is funny [silly], I think he lacks a true sense of humor.)

When comparing these, remember that 幽默感 is the most 'respected' form of being funny. It implies intelligence and a good perspective on life. While being '搞笑' might get a quick laugh, having '幽默感' builds lasting social connections and shows a deeper character. In a professional or formal setting, always opt for '幽默感' or '风趣' over '搞笑'.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

Lin Yutang, the man who coined '幽默,' was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature several times. He believed humor was a sign of a healthy, tolerant society.

Pronunciation Guide

UK jəʊ məʊ ɡæn

US joʊ moʊ ɡæn

The primary stress is on the first syllable 'yōu', with a secondary stress on 'gǎn'.

Rhymes With

感 (gǎn) rhymes with 脸 (liǎn - slightly) 感 (gǎn) rhymes with 远 (yuǎn) 感 (gǎn) rhymes with 简 (jiǎn) 感 (gǎn) rhymes with 演 (yǎn) 感 (gǎn) rhymes with 满 (mǎn) 感 (gǎn) rhymes with 喊 (hǎn) 感 (gǎn) rhymes with 晚 (wǎn) 感 (gǎn) rhymes with 展 (zhǎn)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'yōu' as 'you' (like the English word). It should be a flat first tone.
Pronouncing 'mò' as 'ma'.
Dropping the third tone in 'gǎn'.
Treating 'yōumò' as two separate words with a pause.
Confusing the tones: 1st, 4th, 3rd.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The characters are somewhat complex but very common once you reach A2/B1.

Writing 3/5

幽 and 默 have many strokes and require practice to write correctly.

Speaking 1/5

The pronunciation is easy because it's a loanword from English.

Listening 1/5

Very easy to recognize due to its phonetic similarity to 'humor'.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

有 (have) 人 (person) 很 (very) 什么 (what) 喜欢 (like)

Learn Next

安全感 (sense of security) 责任感 (sense of responsibility) 风趣 (witty) 开玩笑 (to joke)

Advanced

含蓄 (implicit) 讽刺 (irony) 荒诞 (absurd) 自嘲 (self-deprecating)

Grammar to Know

Abstract Nouns with '感'

安全感, 责任感, 幸福感

Using '有' for possessive traits

有礼貌, 有耐心, 有幽默感

The '的' particle for attributes

有幽默感的人

Adverbs of degree with nouns

很有幽默感 (Note: '有' is the verb here)

Negative '缺乏' vs '没有'

他缺乏幽默感 (more formal) vs 他没有幽默感 (more casual)

Examples by Level

他很有幽默感。

He has a lot of sense of humor.

Subject + 很 + 有 + 幽默感

你有幽默感吗？

Do you have a sense of humor?

Question with 吗

我喜欢有幽默感的人。

I like people with a sense of humor.

Noun phrase with 的

老师很有幽默感。

The teacher has a great sense of humor.

Simple subject-verb-object

他没有幽默感。

He doesn't have a sense of humor.

Negative with 没有

幽默感很重要。

A sense of humor is very important.

Abstract noun as subject

你的幽默感很好。

Your sense of humor is good.

Possessive 你的

爸爸有幽默感。

Dad has a sense of humor.

Simple sentence

他的幽默感让大家都很开心。

His sense of humor makes everyone very happy.

Causative structure with 让

我需要一个有幽默感的男朋友。

I need a boyfriend with a sense of humor.

Attributive clause with 的

虽然他很累，但他很有幽默感。

Although he is tired, he has a great sense of humor.

Conjunction 虽然...但是...

这种幽默感很有趣。

This kind of sense of humor is very interesting.

Measure word 这种

他是一个富有幽默感的人。

He is a person rich in a sense of humor.

Formal verb 富有

幽默感可以帮助我们交朋友。

A sense of humor can help us make friends.

Auxiliary verb 可以

你觉得他有幽默感吗？

Do you think he has a sense of humor?

Verb 觉得 for opinion

多一点幽默感，生活会更好。

With a bit more sense of humor, life will be better.

Comparative 'more' with 多一点

他在面试中展现了极佳的幽默感。

He showed excellent sense of humor during the interview.

Verb 展现 (to display)

缺乏幽默感的人有时很难相处。

People who lack a sense of humor are sometimes hard to get along with.

Verb 缺乏 (to lack)

幽默感是缓解压力的好方法。

A sense of humor is a good way to relieve stress.

Noun phrase as method

他的幽默感非常独特，不是每个人都能理解。

His sense of humor is very unique; not everyone can understand it.

Complex sentence with result

由于他的幽默感，聚会变得很热闹。

Due to his sense of humor, the party became very lively.

Reason with 由于

这种幽默感被称为“冷幽默”。

This kind of sense of humor is called 'dry humor'.

Passive-like 被称为

我们要学会用幽默感面对困难。

We should learn to use a sense of humor to face difficulties.

Verb phrase 用...面对...

他的幽默感深受同事们的喜爱。

His sense of humor is deeply loved by his colleagues.

Structure 深受...喜爱

幽默感往往能化解尴尬的社交场面。

A sense of humor can often diffuse awkward social situations.

Verb 化解 (to diffuse/resolve)

这位作家的作品充满了黑色的幽默感。

This writer's works are full of a sense of black humor.

Verb 充满 (to be full of)

幽默感不仅仅是讲笑话，更是一种生活态度。

A sense of humor is not just about telling jokes; it's more of an attitude toward life.

Structure 不仅仅是...更是...

他那冷峻的外表下藏着惊人的幽默感。

Under that stern exterior hides an amazing sense of humor.

Verb 藏 (to hide)

培养幽默感可以提升一个人的个人魅力。

Cultivating a sense of humor can enhance one's personal charm.

Gerund-like 培养 (cultivating)

他的幽默感总是在不经意间流露出来。

His sense of humor always reveals itself unintentionally.

Adverbial 不经意间 (unintentionally)

不同文化背景下的人对幽默感的理解也不同。

People from different cultural backgrounds have different understandings of humor.

Complex subject with prepositional phrase

她那极具感染力的幽默感征服了所有观众。

Her highly infectious sense of humor won over the entire audience.

Adjective 极具感染力的 (infectious)

幽默感是人类智慧在社交互动中的一种高级体现。

A sense of humor is a high-level manifestation of human intelligence in social interaction.

Academic structure '...的一种高级体现'

林语堂先生认为，幽默感是现代文明人必备的素质。

Mr. Lin Yutang believed that a sense of humor is an essential quality for modern civilized people.

Reported speech with 认为

那种带有讽刺意味的幽默感，往往比直白的批评更有力。

That kind of satirical sense of humor is often more powerful than direct criticism.

Comparison with 更有力

幽默感可以作为一种防御机制，帮助个体应对心理创伤。

A sense of humor can serve as a defense mechanism, helping individuals cope with psychological trauma.

Formal '作为...一种...'

在这部电影中，导演通过荒诞的幽默感探讨了深刻的社会议题。

In this movie, the director explores profound social issues through an absurd sense of humor.

Prepositional phrase 通过...探讨...

他的幽默感建立在对人性的深刻洞察之上。

His sense of humor is built upon a profound insight into human nature.

Structure 建立在...之上

这种幽默感虽然含蓄，但却韵味无穷。

Although this sense of humor is subtle, it has an endless aftertaste.

Literary phrase 韵味无穷

幽默感缺失往往会导致沟通中的隔阂与误解。

A lack of sense of humor often leads to barriers and misunderstandings in communication.

Subject-verb-object with abstract concepts

幽默感之于生活，犹如盐之于佳肴，虽非主料却不可或缺。

Sense of humor is to life as salt is to fine food; though not the main ingredient, it is indispensable.

Classical analogy structure '...之于..., 犹如...之于...'

他那举重若轻的幽默感，彰显了一种超脱世俗的人格境界。

His effortless sense of humor highlights a personality realm that transcends the mundane.

Idiom 举重若轻 (handling heavy weight as if light)

真正的幽默感并非刻意的取悦，而是灵魂深处的自由释放。

True sense of humor is not deliberate pleasing, but the free release of the depths of the soul.

Structure 并非...而是...

在东西方文化的交汇点上，幽默感呈现出截然不同的美学特征。

At the intersection of Eastern and Western cultures, the sense of humor presents distinctly different aesthetic characteristics.

Complex locative phrase

这种冷峻而深邃的幽默感，无疑为作品平添了几分哲学思辨色彩。

This stern and profound sense of humor undoubtedly adds a touch of philosophical speculation to the work.

Verb 平添 (to add naturally/extra)

幽默感在政治博弈中往往能起到四两拨千斤的神奇效果。

In political games, a sense of humor can often achieve the magical effect of using a small force to move a huge weight.

Idiom 四两拨千斤

他以一种近乎残酷的幽默感，剖析了现代人精神世界的荒诞性。

With an almost cruel sense of humor, he analyzed the absurdity of the spiritual world of modern people.

Adverbial modifier 近乎 (approaching/almost)

幽默感的最高境界，莫过于在看透生活的真相后，依然能够报之以歌。

The highest realm of a sense of humor is nothing more than being able to respond with a song after seeing the truth of life.

Structure 莫过于 (nothing is more... than)

Common Collocations

很有幽默感

缺乏幽默感

富有幽默感

培养幽默感

独特的幽默感

黑色幽默感

展现幽默感

天生的幽默感

失去幽默感

极具幽默感

Common Phrases

冷幽默

— Dry humor or deadpan humor. It refers to jokes told with a straight face.

他最擅长讲冷幽默。

黑色幽默

— Black humor or dark comedy. Finding humor in tragic or morbid topics.

这部书是黑色幽默的代表作。

美式幽默

— American-style humor, often characterized as direct and energetic.

我不习惯这种美式幽默。

英式幽默

— British-style humor, often seen as dry, sarcastic, and understated.

英式幽默通常比较含蓄。

生活幽默

— Humor derived from everyday life situations.

他总能发现生活幽默。

语言幽默

— Humor that relies on wordplay or clever linguistics.

他擅长运用语言幽默。

自嘲幽默

— Self-deprecating humor. Making fun of oneself.

自嘲幽默是一种自信的表现。

政治幽默

— Political humor or satire.

政治幽默在某些场合很受欢迎。

荒诞幽默

— Absurdist humor. Humor based on nonsense or illogical situations.

这个剧本充满了荒诞幽默。

冷笑话

— A 'cold joke.' A joke that is so unfunny or corny that it makes people 'feel cold.'

别再讲你的冷笑话了。

Often Confused With

幽默感 vs 幽默

幽默 is an adjective (humorous), while 幽默感 is the noun (sense of humor).

幽默感 vs 搞笑

搞笑 is 'funny' in a potentially silly way; 幽默感 is a deeper trait.

幽默感 vs 有趣

有趣 means 'interesting'; something can be interesting without being humorous.

Idioms & Expressions

"妙趣横生"

— Full of wit and humor; incredibly fun and interesting.

他的演讲妙趣横生，大家听得津津有味。

Formal/Literary

"谈笑风生"

— To talk and laugh naturally and wittily; to chat cheerfully.

他们在咖啡馆里谈笑风生。

Neutral/Formal

"忍俊不禁"

— Cannot help laughing; to break into a smile.

看到小猫的动作，大家忍俊不禁。

Literary

"哄堂大笑"

— The whole room bursting into laughter.

他的笑话引起了全场哄堂大笑。

Common

"诙谐幽默"

— Humorous and funny; witty.

他的文风诙谐幽默，深受读者喜爱。

Formal

"插科打诨"

— To make impromptu comic gestures and remarks (originally in theater).

他在严肃的会议中插科打诨，缓解了气氛。

Formal/Literary

"捧腹大笑"

— To double up with laughter; to hold one's belly laughing.

这个电影让我们捧腹大笑。

Common

"语惊四座"

— To shock everyone present with one's words (often used for witty remarks).

他的幽默回答语惊四座。

Formal

"别开生面"

— To start something new; to be original (can be used for a new style of humor).

这场演出别开生面，非常有幽默感。

Formal

"耐人寻味"

— Affording food for thought; intriguing (often used for subtle humor).

这句冷幽默耐人寻味。

Formal

Easily Confused

幽默感 vs 风趣

Both mean funny/witty.

风趣 sounds more elegant and is often used for verbal wit. 幽默感 is more general.

他谈吐风趣。

幽默感 vs 滑稽

Both relate to laughter.

滑稽 is often about physical comedy or looking ridiculous. 幽默感 is about wit.

那个小丑很滑稽。

幽默感 vs 逗

Both mean funny.

逗 is a very casual verb/adjective meaning 'amusing'.

你真逗！

幽默感 vs 机智

Humor often requires wit.

机智 means 'sharp-witted' or 'resourceful'. Not all wit is funny.

他机智地回答了问题。

幽默感 vs 可笑

Both involve laughing.

可笑 often means 'laughable' or 'ridiculous' in a negative sense.

他的想法真可笑。

Sentence Patterns

S + 很有 + 幽默感。

他很有幽默感。

S + 是一个 + 有幽默感的 + Person。

他是一个有幽默感的朋友。

S + 缺乏 + 幽默感。

这个故事缺乏幽默感。

S + 富有 + 幽默感。

他的演讲富有幽默感。

S + 展现出 + 独特的 + 幽默感。

作者展现出独特的幽默感。

S + 之于 + X, 犹如 + 幽默感 + 之于 + 生活。

智慧之于人，犹如幽默感之于生活。

用 + 幽默感 + 面对 + X。

用幽默感面对失败。

S + 没有 + 幽默感吗？

你没有幽默感吗？

Word Family

Nouns

幽默感 (sense of humor)

幽默 (humor)

Verbs

幽默一下 (to be humorous for a moment)

Adjectives

幽默的 (humorous)

诙谐的 (witty)

笑话 (joke)

有趣 (interesting)

风趣 (witty)

搞笑 (funny)

滑稽 (ridiculous)

How to Use It

frequency

High (Top 2000 words in modern Mandarin)

Common Mistakes

他很幽默感。 → 他很有幽默感。
You cannot use '很' directly before a noun like '幽默感'. You need the verb '有'.
他是一个幽默感的人。 → 他是一个很有幽默感的人。
You need '有' to link the noun '幽默感' to the person.
我没有幽默。 → 我没有幽默感。
While '幽默' can be a noun in some contexts, '幽默感' is the standard way to say 'sense of humor.'
他的幽默感很搞笑。 → 他的幽默感很独特 / 他很搞笑。
Mixing '幽默感' (a trait) with '搞笑' (an action/adjective) can sound redundant or awkward.
这个电影有幽默感。 → 这部电影很有幽默感。
Don't forget the '很' to make the sentence sound natural.

Tips

Verb-Noun Pairing

Always pair '幽默感' with '有' (to have) or '缺乏' (to lack). Never use it alone after '很'.

Complimenting

Calling someone '很有幽默感' is a great way to build rapport in a business or social setting.

The 'Sense' Suffix

Learn '感' as a suffix. Once you know 幽默感, you can easily learn 安全感 (security) and 责任感 (responsibility).

Flat Tones

The first character '幽' is a high flat tone. Make sure it doesn't dip or rise.

Radicals

Notice the 'dog' radical (犭) in 默? Actually, it's '犬' (quǎn) on the right side of '黑' (hēi). It helps to remember the characters.

Loanword Alert

If you hear something that sounds like 'Yo-Mo,' it's almost certainly 'Humor'!

Self-Deprecation

In China, '自嘲' (zìcháo) or self-deprecating humor is a sign of a strong '幽默感'.

Context Clues

In stories, '幽默感' often appears when a character is being described as likable or charming.

Adjective vs Noun

Use '幽默' as an adjective and '幽默感' as a noun. '他很幽默' vs '他有幽默感'.

Lin Yutang

Look up Lin Yutang if you want to understand the intellectual roots of this word in China.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Yo! Mo' Sense!' (Yo-Mo-Gan). Imagine a guy named Mo who has a lot of sense (Gan). Yo, Mo's got sense!

Visual Association

Imagine a person with a giant 'smiling' heart inside their chest. The heart represents the 'feeling' (感) of humor (幽默).

Word Web

幽默 (Humor) 感 (Sense) 有趣 (Funny) 笑话 (Joke) 风趣 (Witty) 开心 (Happy) 魅力 (Charm) 社交 (Social)

Challenge

Try to describe three people you know using the phrase '很有幽默感' or '缺乏幽默感' today.

Word Origin

The term '幽默' is a phonetic loanword from the English word 'humor.' It was introduced to the Chinese language in the early 20th century.

Original meaning: In English, 'humor' originally referred to bodily fluids (the four humors), but evolved to mean mood and then wit. In Chinese, the characters chosen for the transliteration were '幽' (deep/quiet) and '默' (silent).

Sino-Tibetan (with English influence).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using humor to talk about sensitive social or political topics in China, as the boundaries of 'appropriate' humor can differ.

Similar to Western cultures, a sense of humor is highly valued in dating and friendship in the English-speaking world.

Lin Yutang's essays on humor Stephen Chow's 'Mo Lei Tau' humor in movies The 'Rock & Roast' (脱口秀大会) TV show in China

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Dating

你有幽默感吗？
我喜欢有幽默感的男生。
幽默感很重要。
他很有魅力，也很有幽默感。

Workplace

老板很有幽默感。
幽默感可以缓解压力。
他在会议上展现了幽默感。
团队需要一点幽默感。

Entertainment

这部电影很有幽默感。
那个演员很有幽默感。
冷幽默很有趣。
我不理解这种幽默感。

Friendship

你真有幽默感。
别这么严肃，多点幽默感。
我们的幽默感很像。
他是个富有幽默感的朋友。

Literature

书中的幽默感很含蓄。
作者运用了黑色幽默感。
这种幽默感耐人寻味。
幽默感是这部作品的灵魂。

Conversation Starters

"你觉得在一段关系中，幽默感有多重要？"

"你最喜欢的喜剧演员是谁？他有幽默感吗？"

"你觉得自己是一个有幽默感的人吗？"

"你喜欢冷幽默还是那种很直白的幽默感？"

"你认为幽默感是天生的还是可以培养的？"

Journal Prompts

描述一个你认为非常有幽默感的人。为什么你这样认为？

记录一次因为你的幽默感而化解尴尬的情况。

谈谈你对“冷幽默”的看法。你喜欢这种幽默感吗？

你认为幽默感在工作中有什么作用？请举例说明。

如果一个人完全没有幽默感，他的生活会是什么样子的？

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you cannot. '幽默感' is a noun. You must say '他很有幽默感' (He has a lot of sense of humor) or '他很幽默' (He is very humorous).

It was transliterated from the English word 'humor' by the writer Lin Yutang in the 1920s.

It is neutral and can be used in both formal speeches and casual conversations.

It refers to 'dry humor' or deadpan humor, where the joke is told without much emotion.

You can say '我没有幽默感' (casual) or '我缺乏幽默感' (more formal).

Yes, it is a very common and high-level compliment in China today.

'风趣' implies a certain elegance and verbal cleverness, whereas '幽默' is a broader term for humor.

Yes, you can say '这本书很有幽默感' (This book has a great sense of humor/tone).

It means 'sense' or 'feeling.' It turns the adjective 'humorous' into the noun 'sense of humor.'

Yes, it's called '脱口秀' (tuōkǒuxiù) and the term '幽默感' is used constantly to describe the performers.