半吊子

半吊子

Chinese

		half; semi-; incomplete half; semi-; incomplete; (after a number) and a half	to hang; to suspend	child; son; (noun suffix) child; son; (noun suffix); small thing; seed; egg; 1st earthly branch; 11 pm-1 am; midnight
trad. (半吊子/半弔子)		半	吊/弔	子
simp. (半吊子)		半	吊	子
Literally: “one who is half a diao”.

Etymology

In ancient China, a diao (吊) was a thousand copper coins strung together. Half a diao (半吊) referred to five hundred coins, and became to be used metaphorically for someone who is deficient in skills or mental capacity. Compare 二百五 (èrbǎiwǔ).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): bàndiàozi

  (Zhuyin): ㄅㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ˙ㄗ

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Pinyin: bàndiàozi
    • Zhuyin: ㄅㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ˙ㄗ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: banndiaw.tzy
    • Tongyong Pinyin: bàndiàozi̊h
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pän⁵¹⁻⁵³ tjɑʊ̯⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹/

Noun

半吊子

1. (figuratively, colloquial, derogatory) one who lacks adequate knowledge or skills; dilettante; smatterer; dabbler
2. (figuratively, colloquial, derogatory) hot-headed or impulsive person; one who leaves tasks unfinished, or the tasks which are unfinished