You use this word to say something is not strong. If you don't like a game much, your interest is 淡薄. It is like a light color or a weak sound.
When you feel that something is fading, like a memory from a long time ago, you can say it is 淡薄. It means the feeling is not very deep or clear anymore.
This word is often used to describe a lack of awareness or interest. For example, if someone has a 淡薄 sense of safety, it means they aren't very careful. It is a great way to describe a weak connection between people.
In a more formal setting, 淡薄 describes a person who is indifferent to material gain. It suggests a sense of detachment. It can also describe a thin atmosphere or a weak presence of something in a specific environment.
Advanced usage often involves abstract concepts like legal awareness or social responsibility. When these are described as 淡薄, it implies a deficiency that needs to be addressed. It carries a slightly critical tone in professional or academic writing.
At the mastery level, 淡薄 evokes a philosophical sense of 'lightness' or 'detachment.' It mirrors the classical ideal of being unburdened by worldly desires. It is a nuanced term that balances between describing a negative lack of engagement and a positive, serene state of minimalism.
淡薄 in 30 Seconds
- Means weak, faint, or lacking intensity.
- Used primarily for abstract concepts like interest or feelings.
- Often implies a lack of depth or presence.
- Can also describe a philosophical detachment from worldly things.
When we talk about 淡薄 (dàn bó), we are describing a state of being thin, weak, or lacking in presence. Think of it as the opposite of something rich, deep, or intense.
You might use this word when someone has little interest in a hobby, or perhaps when a memory starts to fade away. It is a very useful term for describing things that have lost their 'flavor' or strength over time.
The word 淡 (dàn) originally refers to something watery or lacking salt, while 薄 (bó) means thin or light. Together, they create a compound that suggests a lack of density.
Historically, this term was often used in classical literature to describe a detached attitude toward worldly fame or wealth. It suggests a person who is 'thin' or 'light' in their attachment to material things, showing a calm, minimalist perspective.
In daily life, 淡薄 is frequently used with abstract nouns. You will often hear it paired with words like interest (兴趣), concept (观念), or feeling (感情).
It is generally used in a neutral to formal register. You wouldn't usually use it to describe a physical object like a piece of paper, but rather for things that exist in the mind or in social dynamics.
While 淡薄 is a word itself, it appears in many contexts regarding character. 1. 名利淡薄 (indifferent to fame and wealth). 2. 感情淡薄 (cold or distant feelings). 3. 记忆淡薄 (a fading memory). 4. 意识淡薄 (lacking awareness). 5. 关系淡薄 (a distant relationship).
As an adjective, 淡薄 functions as a descriptive predicate. It can be modified by adverbs of degree like very (很) or quite (比较).
Pronounced as dàn bó, the first character has a falling tone and the second is a rising tone. It rhymes loosely with other 'o' ending words in Chinese, though it is a distinct two-syllable unit.
Fun Fact
The character '薄' originally depicted a plant that was sparse.
Pronunciation Guide
- Mixing up tones
- Pronouncing 'bo' as 'boo'
- Dropping the 'n' sound
Difficulty Rating
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjective Predicates
他很淡薄。
Degree Adverbs
十分淡薄
Compound Adjectives
淡薄
Examples by Level
我对这个游戏兴趣淡薄。
I have weak interest in this game.
Subject + prepositional phrase + adjective.
他的感情很淡薄。
His feelings are very faint.
Simple S+V+Adj structure.
记忆变得淡薄了。
The memory has become faint.
Verb + adjective.
这种颜色很淡薄。
This color is very light/thin.
Adjective usage.
他兴趣淡薄。
He has little interest.
Direct adjective description.
雾气淡薄。
The mist is thin.
Noun + adjective.
关系淡薄。
The relationship is distant.
Descriptive phrase.
声音淡薄。
The sound is faint.
Sensory description.
他对名利看得很淡薄。
我们的联系越来越淡薄了。
他的安全意识很淡薄。
这杯茶的味道很淡薄。
他对政治兴趣淡薄。
那种感觉已经很淡薄了。
他的责任感十分淡薄。
晨雾在阳光下变得淡薄。
由于长期不联系，我们的友谊变得淡薄了。
他对于物质追求表现得非常淡薄。
现代人对传统节日的仪式感越来越淡薄。
这份合同中的法律约束力显得有些淡薄。
他对这份工作的热情已经变得很淡薄。
在城市里，邻里之间的关系往往比较淡薄。
这种药物的药效随着时间推移变得淡薄。
他对于规则的敬畏感十分淡薄。
他那种淡薄名利的人格魅力令人敬佩。
面对巨大的诱惑，他依然保持着淡薄的心态。
随着年龄增长，他对物质的渴望变得淡薄。
社会对于环保的意识依然相当淡薄。
这种艺术风格追求的是一种淡薄的意境。
虽然是亲戚，但由于多年未见，感情相当淡薄。
他对权力的追求表现出一种淡薄的态度。
淡薄的月光照在宁静的湖面上。
他以一种淡薄世事的态度处理复杂的职场关系。
在快节奏的社会中，人们对深层交流的渴望变得淡薄。
这种淡薄的叙事风格反而增强了电影的感染力。
法律意识的淡薄是导致该问题的主要原因。
他对于世俗的成功有着一种近乎冷漠的淡薄。
淡薄的色彩运用是该画家的独特标志。
这种淡薄的联系使得团队缺乏凝聚力。
他对于名声的淡薄态度反而赢得了更多尊重。
他那淡薄名利、超然物外的境界令人神往。
在历史的长河中，个人的恩怨显得如此淡薄。
这种淡薄的笔触勾勒出一种空灵的意境。
对于权势的淡薄追求是他高尚品格的体现。
当激情褪去，剩下的只有淡薄的日常。
他那种淡薄的处世哲学在现代社会显得格格不入。
对于生死，他有着一种超乎常人的淡薄。
淡薄的烟云笼罩着远处的山峦。
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"淡泊名利"
Indifferent to fame and wealth
他一生淡泊名利。
formal"人情淡薄"
Cold human relationships
现代社会有时显得人情淡薄。
neutral"记忆犹新 vs 记忆淡薄"
Vivid memory vs Fading memory
那件事我记忆犹新，不像其他事那样淡薄。
neutral"兴趣索然"
Bored/No interest
他对聚会兴趣索然，表现得十分淡薄。
formal"冷若冰霜"
Cold and distant
她待人冷若冰霜，感情淡薄。
literaryEasily Confused
Both start with 'thin' concepts
浅薄 = shallow knowledge, 淡薄 = weak intensity
见识浅薄 vs 兴趣淡薄
Both involve 'cold/weak' feelings
冷淡 = social coldness, 淡薄 = internal lack
态度冷淡 vs 感情淡薄
Both mean 'thin'
稀薄 = physical density (air), 淡薄 = abstract
空气稀薄 vs 意识淡薄
Both mean 'weak'
微弱 = sensory (sound/light), 淡薄 = abstract
光线微弱 vs 兴趣淡薄
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 兴趣 + 淡薄
我对这个兴趣淡薄。
Subject + 感情 + 变得 + 淡薄
我们的感情变得淡薄了。
Subject + 表现出 + 淡薄 + 的 + 态度
他表现出淡薄的态度。
Subject + 具有 + 淡薄 + 的 + 意识
他具有淡薄的法律意识。
Subject + 对 + X + 看得 + 淡薄
他看淡薄名利。
Word Family
Nouns
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
-
Using 淡薄 for physical thickness
→
Use 厚 (thick) or 薄 (thin)
淡薄 is for abstract intensity, not physical dimensions.
-
Confusing with 浅薄
→
Use 浅薄 for shallow knowledge
淡薄 is about intensity, 浅薄 is about lack of depth/wisdom.
-
Using as a verb
→
Use as an adjective
It needs a linking verb like 'is' or 'becomes'.
-
Overusing for everything
→
Use specific synonyms
Don't use it for everything 'weak'; use 微弱 for light/sound.
-
Misplacing in sentence
→
Follow S+V+Adj
It usually follows the noun it modifies.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a fading light bulb.
When Native Speakers Use It
To describe fading memories or lack of enthusiasm.
Cultural Insight
Reflects the Taoist value of simplicity.
Grammar Shortcut
Always pair with abstract nouns.
Say It Right
Focus on the tones.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use for physical thickness.
Did You Know?
The word is very old.
Study Smart
Use it in sentences about your own hobbies.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a cup of tea that has had too much water added—it's 'dàn' (watery) and 'bó' (thin).
Visual Association
A fading sunset color.
Word Web
Challenge
Describe three things in your life that you feel are 淡薄.
Word Origin
Chinese
Original meaning: Watery and thin
Cultural Context
None
No direct equivalent, often translated as 'weak', 'faint', or 'indifferent'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
School/Work
- 兴趣淡薄
- 责任感淡薄
- 意识淡薄
Social
- 关系淡薄
- 感情淡薄
- 人情淡薄
Philosophy
- 淡泊名利
- 淡薄世事
Daily Life
- 记忆淡薄
- 味道淡薄
Conversation Starters
"你对什么事情兴趣淡薄？"
"你觉得现在的邻里关系淡薄吗？"
"你认为淡泊名利是一种好的生活态度吗？"
"当记忆变得淡薄时，你会怎么做？"
"你觉得现代人的法律意识淡薄吗？"
Journal Prompts
Describe a memory that has become淡薄 over time.
Write about a time you felt 淡薄 interest in a project.
Reflect on the phrase '淡泊名利'.
Is it better to have intense feelings or淡薄 ones? Why?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, use 薄 (bó) instead.
It depends on context; it can be neutral or critical.
Use 浓厚 (nóng hòu).
Yes, quite often.
No, it's an adjective.
It describes their attitudes or feelings.
冷淡 is usually about behavior toward others; 淡薄 is about internal states.
It is standard, slightly formal.
Test Yourself
他对这个游戏兴趣___。
淡薄 describes weak interest.
Which of the following is NOT a common use for 淡薄?
淡薄 is for abstract things.
淡薄 can describe a very thick wall.
It describes abstract intensity.
Word
Meaning
Matching concept to meaning.
Standard adjective order.
Score: /5
Summary
淡薄 is your go-to word for describing anything that has lost its strength, depth, or intensity.
- Means weak, faint, or lacking intensity.
- Used primarily for abstract concepts like interest or feelings.
- Often implies a lack of depth or presence.
- Can also describe a philosophical detachment from worldly things.
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a fading light bulb.
When Native Speakers Use It
To describe fading memories or lack of enthusiasm.
Cultural Insight
Reflects the Taoist value of simplicity.
Grammar Shortcut
Always pair with abstract nouns.
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未免
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废弃
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恪守
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反常
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充裕
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充沛
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门禁
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