Definition
嫌 (xián) means to dislike or complain about something because it's unsatisfactory — it's milder than 讨厌 (tǎo yàn 'to loathe') and less emotional than 反感 (fǎn gǎn 'to feel disgusted'). Unlike 指责 (zhǐ zé 'to criticize, denounce'), 嫌 focuses on personal dissatisfaction or finding fault, not on publicly blaming someone. It often appears in the pattern 嫌 + [reason] (e.g., 嫌贵 'find it too expensive').
verb
to dislike (usually because something is unsatisfactory)to complain aboutto find fault with
Easily confused
- 赚zhuànlook-aliketo earn (a profit), to make money
- 先xiānsound-alikefirst, in advance, before others
- 兼jiānlook-aliketo hold two or more positions or roles at the same time; to concurrently hold
- 线xiànsound-alikethread; string; wire; line
- 兹zīlook-alikethis (formal, literary)
- 险xiǎnsound-alike(adjective) dangerous, perilous
- 献xiànsound-aliketo offer, to present (with respect, e.g. flowers, gifts, opinion)
- 陷xiànsound-aliketo sink into, to get stuck in (physical substance); to cave in
- 显xiǎnsound-alike(adjective) prominent, conspicuous, obvious
- 县xiànsound-alikecounty
Examples
- 嫌，。Tā xián zhè jiàn yīfu tài guì, méi mǎi.She found this dress too expensive and didn't buy it.
- 嫌。Māma xián wǒ qǐ de tài wǎn.Mom complained that I woke up too late.
- 嫌，。Nǐ bié xián wǒ fán, wǒ zhǐshì dānxīn nǐ.Don't mind me being annoying; I'm just worried about you.
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