Definition
耍流氓 is a colloquial verb-object compound (离合词) meaning 'to act like a thug' — in modern usage it almost always refers to sexual harassment (groping, lewd behavior), not just general hooliganism. The verb 耍 can separate from 流氓: you can insert measure words or modifiers, e.g. 耍了一次流氓 ('harassed once'), or use the pattern 耍什么流氓 ('what kind of harassment'). It's a serious accusation in Chinese.
v.o.
to act like a hoodlumto sexually harass (colloquial, often with a sexual connotation)
Examples
- ,。Tā zài gōnggòng qìchē shàng shuǎ le yí cì liúmáng, bèi qítā rén bàojǐng le.He sexually harassed someone on the bus, and others called the police.
- ,。Tā hē le jiǔ, zài lùshàng shuǎ liúmáng.He drank alcohol and acted like a thug on the street.
- !Bié zài zhèlǐ shuǎ shénme liúmáng!Don't harass anyone here!
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.