frivolous and cunning; affectedly delicate (of writing)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesadjective
frivolous and crafty; giddy and cunning
literaryDescribes a person who is frivolous in behavior and deceitful in character.
Qí其
rén人
tiāo佻
qiǎo巧
，
bù不
kě可
shēn深
jiāo交
。
That man is frivolous and cunning, not someone to befriend deeply.
Tiāo佻
qiǎo巧
zhī之
tú徒
，
wǎng往
wǎng往
yán言
guò过
qí其
shí实
。
Those who are giddy and crafty often exaggerate beyond the truth.
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Tā他
wéi为
rén人
tiāo佻
qiǎo巧
，
quē缺
fá乏
chéng诚
kěn恳
。
He conducts himself in a frivolous and cunning manner, lacking sincerity.
adjective
(of writing) delicately wrought but lacking seriousness; affectedly ornate
literaryCriticizes a literary style that is overly refined or tricky but fails to convey gravity or substance.
Cǐ此
wén文
guò过
yú于
tiāo佻
qiǎo巧
，
quē缺
fá乏
zhuāng庄
zhòng重
zhī之
gǎn感
。
This essay is excessively affected in its delicacy, lacking a sense of dignity.
Tiāo佻
qiǎo巧
de的
wén文
fēng风
bù不
shì适
hé合
zhèng正
shì式
de的
xué学
shù术
zhù著
zuò作
。
An affectedly ornate literary style is unsuitable for formal academic works.
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Tā他
de的
shī诗
gē歌
tiāo佻
qiǎo巧
xiān纤
lì丽
，
dàn但
nèi内
róng容
kōng空
dòng洞
。
His poetry is delicately and prettily wrought, yet void of content.