suffix indicating state or manner; -ish
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplessuffix
suffix attached to certain adjectives to indicate a state, appearance, or manner; often conveying a noticeable, excessive, or slightly negative tone
dialectCommonly used in spoken Chinese and regional dialects. Often adds a subjective evaluation, implying that the state is conspicuous, excessive, or somewhat pitiful/unpleasant. Frequently appears in words like 脏兮兮 (grimy), 可怜兮兮 (pathetically), and 神经兮兮 (jittery).
Zhè这
hái孩
zi子
mǎn满
liǎn脸
zāng脏
xī兮
xī兮
de的
，
kuài快
dài带
qù去
xǐ洗
xi洗
。
This child's face is all grimy; quickly take him to wash up.
Tā他
kě可
lián怜
xī兮
xī兮
de地
zhàn站
zài在
nà那
lǐ里
，
děng等
zhe着
lǎo老
bǎn板
fā发
huà话
。
He stood there looking so pitiful, waiting for the boss to say something.
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Zì自
cóng从
nà那
jiàn件
shì事
hòu后
，
tā他
jiù就
biàn变
de得
shén神
jīng经
xī兮
xī兮
de的
。
Ever since that incident, he has become jittery and neurotic.
Bié别
shǎ傻
xī兮
xī兮
de地
xiāng相
xìn信
tā他
shuō说
de的
huà话
。
Don't be silly enough to believe what he says.