无精打采 wú jīng dǎ cǎi
listless; in low spirits
Literally: without spirit hit colour
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Origin
Descriptive; no single source story. Common in Qing dynasty fiction such as Dream of the Red Chamber.
How to use it
Predicate or adverbial; negative. Often 无精打采地坐着 / 看起来无精打采.
Example sentences
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- 他昨天没睡好,今天上课无精打采的。Tā zuótiān méi shuìhǎo, jīntiān shàngkè wú jīng dǎ cǎi de.He didn't sleep well last night and is listless in class today.he yesterday not sleep-well, today attend-class without spirit hit colour (particle)
- 你怎么无精打采的?是不是生病了?Nǐ zěnme wú jīng dǎ cǎi de? Shì bu shì shēngbìng le?Why are you so down? Are you ill?you how without spirit hit colour (particle)? is not is fall-ill (particle)?
More chengyu about feelings & moods
- 兴高采烈xìng gāo cǎi lièin high spirits; jubilant
- 心平气和xīn píng qì hécalm and even-tempered; in a peaceful frame of mind
- 大吃一惊dà chī yī jīngto be greatly surprised; taken aback
- 哭笑不得kū xiào bù dénot knowing whether to laugh or cry
- 手忙脚乱shǒu máng jiǎo luànin a flurry; frantic and disorganised
- 提心吊胆tí xīn diào dǎnon tenterhooks; filled with anxiety
- 依依不舍yī yī bù shěreluctant to part; loath to leave
- 恍然大悟huǎng rán dà wùto suddenly realise; the penny drops