To perform a task with minimal effort just to satisfy requirements, lacking genuine commitment.
Word in 30 Seconds
- To do things perfunctorily without real effort.
- Often implies a lack of sincerity or responsibility.
- Commonly used when someone just goes through the motions.
Overview
- 1概况：敷衍是一个典型的中文动词，核心含义是“应付了事”。它强调的是行为者虽然在动作上完成了某项任务，但内心缺乏诚意，甚至带有抵触或怠惰情绪。2) 用法模式：该词常与“了事”、“塞责”等词连用，构成“敷衍了事”或“敷衍塞责”等固定短语。在句中，它既可以单独作为谓语，也可以作为动词短语的中心词，后面常接宾语，如“敷衍领导”、“敷衍工作”。3) 常见语境：在职场中，当员工对上级的指令不认可却不得不执行时，常表现为敷衍；在人际交往中，当某人不想深入交流而给出模糊回应时，也常被评价为敷衍。4) 近义词辨析：与“马虎”相比，“敷衍”更侧重于态度的不诚恳，而“马虎”侧重于工作结果的粗糙和不严谨。与“应付”相比，“敷衍”的贬义色彩更重，强调的是一种消极怠工的心理状态。
Examples
他只是敷衍地回答了我的问题。
everydayHe answered my question in a perfunctory manner.
员工若敷衍塞责，将面临严厉的惩罚。
formalIf employees perform their duties perfunctorily, they will face severe punishment.
别敷衍我，把话说清楚！
informalDon't brush me off, explain yourself clearly!
该研究报告因数据收集过程过于敷衍而被驳回。
academicThe research report was rejected because the data collection process was perfunctory.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
敷衍了事
do a perfunctory job
敷衍塞责
shirk one's duty
敷衍的态度
perfunctory attitude
Often Confused With
应付 can be neutral or positive (handling a problem), while 敷衍 is always negative.
马虎 suggests carelessness due to lack of skill or attention; 敷衍 suggests a conscious choice to be insincere.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
Use '敷衍' when you want to emphasize the lack of heart or sincerity in an action. It is a formal to neutral term, often found in professional critiques or interpersonal complaints. Avoid using it to describe yourself, as it highlights personal negligence.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use it interchangeably with 'busy' or 'careless'. Remember that '敷衍' requires a target (a task, a person, or a question) that is being treated insincerely. It is not just about making a mistake; it is about the intention behind the action.
Tips
Use it to describe insincere behavior
When you want to criticize someone for just going through the motions, this is the perfect word. It highlights the gap between the action taken and the sincerity behind it.
Avoid using it in formal self-introductions
Never describe your own work as '敷衍', as it implies you are a lazy or unreliable person. It is strictly used to comment on others' performance.
The importance of sincerity in Chinese culture
In Chinese culture, 'sincerity' (诚意) is highly valued. Using '敷衍' is a strong social criticism, implying a lack of respect for the recipient or the task.
Word Origin
The word originates from the concept of 'spreading out' (敷) and 'extending' (衍), implying that one's effort is spread so thin that it becomes superficial and ineffective.
Cultural Context
In Chinese work culture, showing 'sincerity' (诚意) is crucial for building trust. '敷衍' is the direct opposite, signaling a breakdown in professional or personal relationships.
Memory Tip
Think of the two characters: '敷' (to spread) and '衍' (to extend). Imagine someone spreading their effort thin just to cover the surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions“应付”有时是中性的，指处理各种复杂局面；而“敷衍”带有明显的负面评价，侧重于态度上的不认真和不负责任。
当你发现某人为了完成任务而故意降低标准，或者在回答问题时故意回避核心内容时，使用“敷衍”最准确。
不可以，“敷衍”主要用来形容人的行为和态度，不能用来形容物体本身。
其反义词包括“认真”、“尽责”、“诚恳”等，强调对任务的高度重视和投入。
Test Yourself
他对待工作总是___，难怪上级对他很不满意。
根据句意，上级不满是因为工作态度不好，故选敷衍。
哪个词表达了类似“敷衍”的含义？
敷衍塞责是一个固定搭配，塞责意为应付责任。
用“敷衍”造句。
选项b逻辑通顺且词义使用准确。
Score: /3
Summary
To perform a task with minimal effort just to satisfy requirements, lacking genuine commitment.
- To do things perfunctorily without real effort.
- Often implies a lack of sincerity or responsibility.
- Commonly used when someone just goes through the motions.
Use it to describe insincere behavior
When you want to criticize someone for just going through the motions, this is the perfect word. It highlights the gap between the action taken and the sincerity behind it.
Avoid using it in formal self-introductions
Never describe your own work as '敷衍', as it implies you are a lazy or unreliable person. It is strictly used to comment on others' performance.
The importance of sincerity in Chinese culture
In Chinese culture, 'sincerity' (诚意) is highly valued. Using '敷衍' is a strong social criticism, implying a lack of respect for the recipient or the task.
Examples
4 of 4他只是敷衍地回答了我的问题。
He answered my question in a perfunctory manner.
员工若敷衍塞责，将面临严厉的惩罚。
If employees perform their duties perfunctorily, they will face severe punishment.
别敷衍我，把话说清楚！
Don't brush me off, explain yourself clearly!
该研究报告因数据收集过程过于敷衍而被驳回。
The research report was rejected because the data collection process was perfunctory.
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