stiff; constrained; formal
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesadjective
stiff and formal; constrained; lacking naturalness (in behavior or conversation)
dialectRegional/dialect term (marked as 〈方〉) describing someone who is overly formal, stiff, or unnatural in social interactions or conversation. Often implies a lack of spontaneity.
Tā他
dài待
rén人
jiē接
wù物
yǒu有
xiē些
jū拘
bǎn板
。
He is somewhat stiff and formal in his social interactions.
Zì自
jǐ己
rén人
suí随
biàn便
tán谈
huà话
，
bù不
bì必
zhè这
me么
jū拘
bǎn板
。
We're among friends, so there's no need to be so stiff and formal in conversation.
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Zhè这
wèi位
lǎo老
shī师
shàng上
kè课
tài太
jū拘
bǎn板
，
xué学
sheng生
men们
dōu都
bù不
xǐ喜
huan欢
。
This teacher is too stiff and formal in class, so the students don't like him.