private detective; gossipmonger
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
private detective; undercover informer
dialectThis is the original historical meaning, now rarely used in standard Mandarin, mostly preserved in dialect contexts.
Mín民
guó国
shí时
qī期
，
Shàng上
hǎi海
zū租
jiè界
lǐ里
cháng常
yǒu有
bāo包
dǎ打
tīng听
huó活
dòng动
。
During the Republican period, private detectives were common in the Shanghai concessions.
noun
gossipmonger; busybody who prys into others' business
derogatoryThis is the most commonly used modern meaning, used in informal and dialect contexts to mock someone who excessively seeks out private information.
Bié别
gēn跟
nà那
ge个
bāo包
dǎ打
tīng听
shuō说
，
tā他
huì会
bǎ把
nǐ你
de的
shì事
chuán传
biàn遍
zhěng整
gè个
bàn办
gōng公
shì室
。
Don't talk to that gossipmonger, he'll spread your business all over the office.
Xiǎo小
qū区
lǐ里
nà那
ge个
bāo包
dǎ打
tīng听
zǒng总
ài爱
còu凑
guò过
lái来
wèn问
dōng东
wèn问
xī西
。
That busybody in the neighborhood always comes over to pester people with questions.
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Tóng同
shì事
men们
dōu都
tǎo讨
yàn厌
tā他
，
yīn因
wèi为
tā他
shì是
ge个
yǒu有
míng名
de的
bāo包
dǎ打
tīng听
。
All the colleagues dislike him because he's a well-known gossipmonger.
Tā她
jiù就
ài爱
dāng当
bāo包
dǎ打
tīng听
，
dào到
chù处
sàn散
bò播
tīng听
dào到
de的
xiǎo小
dào道
xiāo消
xi息
。
She loves to be a gossipmonger, spreading all the小道消息 she hears everywhere.
Bié别
lǐ理
nà那
ge个
bāo包
dǎ打
tīng听
，
tā他
gēn根
běn本
méi没
shén什
me么
zhèng正
jīng经
shì事
zuò做
。
Ignore that busybody, he has no real work to do.