Definition
放羊 is a separable verb (离合词) with both a literal meaning ('to herd sheep') and a figurative, informal meaning ('to slack off, to let things drift'). The two parts 放 and 羊 can separate to insert aspect markers (了, 过) or time duration: e.g. 放了三年羊 ('herded sheep for three years'). The figurative sense is commonly used in workplace or study contexts to describe someone being irresponsible or neglecting their duties.
v.o.
to herd sheep(figurative, informal) to slack offto let things slideto be irresponsible
Examples
- 放羊。Tā měitiān zǎoshang liù diǎn jiù qù shānshàng fàng yáng.He goes up to the mountain to herd sheep at six every morning.
- 放羊，。Zuìjìn tā zài gōngzuò shàng yìzhí fàng yáng, shénme yě bù guǎn.Lately he's been slacking off at work and not taking care of anything.
- 。Tā niánqīng shí zài lǎojiā fàng le sān nián yáng.When he was young, he herded sheep in his hometown for three years.
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