fā píqi: 发脾气 - To Lose One's Temper, To Get Angry

• Keywords: fā píqi, 发脾气, lose temper in Chinese, get angry Chinese, Chinese word for tantrum, fapiqi, fa piqi, how to say angry in Chinese, 生气 vs 发脾气, Chinese culture anger
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese phrase 发脾气 (fā píqi), which means “to lose one's temper” or “throw a tantrum.” This guide explores the difference between simply being angry (生气) and the outward act of getting angry. Discover the cultural significance of expressing anger in China, and master how to use 发脾气 in everyday conversations with practical examples, detailed analysis, and tips to avoid common mistakes for beginner learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fā píqi
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase (Functions as a single verb in a sentence)
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To outwardly express anger; to lose one's temper.
• In a Nutshell: 发脾气 (fā píqi) is not just the feeling of anger, but the action of showing it. Think of an outburst: yelling, pouting, slamming a door, or visibly showing frustration. It’s the “letting out” of a bad temper. While a child might throw a tantrum, an adult might also 发脾气 by raising their voice in an argument. The key is that the anger is visible and directed outwards.

• 发 (fā): This character means “to send out,” “to issue,” or “to erupt.” Think of launching a rocket (发射 fāshè) or sending an email (发邮件 fā yóujiàn). In 发脾气, it carries the meaning of releasing or letting out something from within.
• 脾 (pí): This character means “spleen.” In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), organs are linked to emotions, and the spleen was historically associated with one's temperament and disposition.
• 气 (qì): This means “air,” “gas,” or “vital energy.” It's also central to emotion-related words, like 生气 (shēngqì), which means “to be angry” (literally “to generate anger/qi”). In this context, 脾气 (píqi) combines these two characters to mean “temperament” or “temper.”

When you combine them, 发 (fā) + 脾气 (píqi) literally means “to send out one's temper.” This creates a vivid image of anger erupting from a person.

In Western cultures, expressing anger can sometimes be seen as being assertive or honest. However, in traditional Chinese culture, which places a high value on social harmony (和谐, héxié) and “face” (面子, miànzi), a public outburst of anger is often viewed differently. To 发脾气 is generally considered a sign of immaturity and a lack of self-control. It can cause both the angry person and the recipient to “lose face,” disrupting the harmony of the group. The traditional ideal is often to practice 忍 (rěn)—to endure, forbear, and maintain a calm exterior, even when feeling frustrated. Therefore, while 发脾气 happens in China just as anywhere else, it's often more restrained or confined to private spaces, like within the family. In a professional or public setting, it is highly discouraged and can be damaging to one's reputation. Understanding this helps explain why a Chinese colleague might seem reserved or indirect when they are upset, rather than confronting the issue with an open display of anger.

发脾气 is a very common term used in everyday, informal Mandarin.

• Describing Children: It's frequently used to describe a child throwing a tantrum. E.g., “这个孩子总爱发脾气。” (This child is always throwing tantrums.)
• Adult Frustration: It's also used for adults losing their cool, whether it's yelling at customer service, getting into an argument with a partner, or complaining about a stressful day at work.
• Giving Advice: People often use it in the negative to give advice. E.g., “遇到问题要冷静，不要随便发脾气。” (When you encounter problems, you need to be calm; don't just lose your temper.)
• Connotation: The connotation is almost always negative. It implies a loss of control and is something to be avoided. You would rarely, if ever, say you 发脾气 with pride.

• Example 1:
  • 他因为一点小事就对服务员发脾气。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi yīdiǎn xiǎoshì jiù duì fúwùyuán fā píqi.
  • English: He lost his temper at the waiter over a small matter.
  • Analysis: This shows the common structure `对 [someone] 发脾气` (duì [someone] fā píqi), meaning “to lose one's temper at someone.”
• Example 2:
  • 孩子得不到玩具，就开始发脾气，大哭大闹。
  • Pinyin: Háizi dé bùdào wánjù, jiù kāishǐ fā píqi, dà kū dà nào.
  • English: When the child couldn't get the toy, he started to throw a tantrum, crying and making a scene.
  • Analysis: A classic example of 发脾气 referring to a childish tantrum.
• Example 3:
  • 对不起，我昨天太累了，不应该向你发脾气。
  • Pinyin: Duìbùqǐ, wǒ zuótiān tài lèi le, bù yīnggāi xiàng nǐ fā píqi.
  • English: I'm sorry, I was too tired yesterday. I shouldn't have lost my temper with you.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how to apologize for losing one's temper. `向 (xiàng)` is used similarly to `对 (duì)`.
• Example 4:
  • 你为什么突然发脾气？发生什么事了？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme tūrán fā píqi? Fāshēng shénme shì le?
  • English: Why did you suddenly lose your temper? What happened?
  • Analysis: A common question to ask someone who has just had an outburst.
• Example 5:
  • 我老板的脾气不好，他经常在办公室发脾气。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ lǎobǎn de píqi bù hǎo, tā jīngcháng zài bàngōngshì fā píqi.
  • English: My boss has a bad temper; he often loses his temper in the office.
  • Analysis: This sentence cleverly distinguishes between having a bad temper (`脾气不好`) and the act of losing it (`发脾气`).
• Example 6:
  • 他是一个很有耐心的人，从来不发脾气。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì yīgè hěn yǒu nàixīn de rén, cónglái bù fā píqi.
  • English: He is a very patient person and never loses his temper.
  • Analysis: Shows the negative form and connects the concept to its opposite, patience (`耐心`).
• Example 7:
  • 别跟他开玩笑了，他今天心情不好，很容易发脾气。
  • Pinyin: Bié gēn tā kāiwánxiào le, tā jīntiān xīnqíng bù hǎo, hěn róngyì fā píqi.
  • English: Stop joking with him. He's in a bad mood today and could easily lose his temper.
  • Analysis: This illustrates that a bad mood (`心情不好`) can be a precursor to 发脾气.
• Example 8:
  • 妈妈告诉我，发脾气解决不了任何问题。
  • Pinyin: Māma gàosù wǒ, fā píqi jiějué bùliǎo rènhé wèntí.
  • English: My mom told me that losing your temper can't solve any problems.
  • Analysis: Here, 发脾气 functions as the subject of the sentence, showing its versatility.
• Example 9:
  • 工作压力太大了，我昨天忍不住发了一通脾气。
  • Pinyin: Gōngzuò yālì tài dà le, wǒ zuótiān rěnbuzhù fāle yītòng píqi.
  • English: The work pressure was too great; yesterday I couldn't help but lose my temper (have a fit of anger).
  • Analysis: The phrase `一通 (yītòng)` is a measure word for actions, emphasizing a whole episode or bout of anger. This highlights the verb-object nature of the phrase.
• Example 10:
  • 如果你再发脾气，我就走了。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ zài fā píqi, wǒ jiù zǒu le.
  • English: If you lose your temper again, I'm leaving.
  • Analysis: A clear, conditional sentence showing a direct consequence of the action.

• `发脾气 (fā píqi)` vs. `生气 (shēngqì)`: This is the most critical distinction for learners.
  • 生气 (shēngqì): The internal state of being angry. You can be 生气 quietly without anyone knowing. “I am angry” = 我很生气 (Wǒ hěn shēngqì).
  • 发脾气 (fā píqi): The external action of showing anger. It's the outburst. You are 生气 before you 发脾气.
  • Analogy: 生气 is the volcano rumbling; 发脾气 is the volcano erupting.
• “Having a temper” vs. “Losing your temper”:
  • To say someone “has a bad temper,” you use the noun 脾气 (píqi): 他脾气不好 (Tā píqi bù hǎo).
  • To say someone “is losing their temper” (the action), you use 发脾气: 他在发脾气 (Tā zài fā píqi).
  • Incorrect: `他很发脾气。` (This is grammatically wrong, like saying “He is very lose temper.”)
  • Correct: `他发脾气了。` (He lost his temper.) or `他常常发脾气。` (He often loses his temper.)
• Separating the Verb and Object:
  • Because 发脾气 is a verb-object phrase, you can insert words between 发 and 脾气.
  • Example: 他发了一个很大的脾气。(Tā fāle yīgè hěn dà de píqi.) - “He threw a very big tantrum.” A native speaker would say this, but a learner might not realize it's possible.

• 生气 (shēngqì) - The internal feeling of being angry; the prerequisite state for `发脾气`.
• 脾气 (píqi) - The noun for “temper,” “temperament,” or “disposition.”
• 冷静 (lěngjìng) - To be calm; to calm down. The direct opposite action/state of `发脾气`.
• 耐心 (nàixīn) - Patience. A person with `耐心` is unlikely to `发脾气`. (Antonym of the personality trait).
• 吵架 (chǎo jià) - To quarrel or argue. An argument often involves one or more people `发脾气`.
• 火大 (huǒ dà) - Literally “fire big.” A very colloquial and informal slang term for being extremely angry, similar to “pissed off.”
• 暴躁 (bàozào) - An adjective describing a personality that is irritable or crabby; someone who is prone to `发脾气`.
• 忍 (rěn) - To endure, tolerate, or forbear. A key cultural value that encourages one to avoid `发脾气`.
• 情绪 (qíngxù) - Mood, emotions. `发脾气` is a way of expressing a negative `情绪`.