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| 迟钝 [2025/08/10 08:51] – created xiaoer | 迟钝 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== chídùn: 迟钝 - Slow, Dull, Insensitive ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** chidun, chídùn, 迟钝, 迟钝 meaning, Chinese for slow, Chinese for dull, Chinese for insensitive, what does chidun mean, how to use chidun, slow reaction Chinese, mentally slow in Chinese, slow-witted, sluggish. | |
| * **Summary:** "迟钝" (chídùn) is a versatile Chinese adjective used to describe a slowness in reaction or a lack of sharpness. It can refer to someone being mentally slow or "dull-witted," emotionally insensitive to others' feelings, or having slow physical reflexes. While it's often used negatively to describe people, it can also be used neutrally to describe dulled senses (like taste or smell) or even a sluggish economy. Understanding "迟钝" is key to grasping the nuances between simple slowness and a deeper lack of acuity. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** chídùn | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Adjective | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** Slow to respond, whether mentally, physically, or emotionally; dull-witted, sluggish, or insensitive. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine a knife that is no longer sharp—it's "dull." "迟钝" (chídùn) applies this concept of "dullness" to a person's mind, reactions, or feelings. It's not just about being physically slow (`慢 màn`); it's about a delayed processing speed. Someone who is `迟钝` might not get a joke right away, realize they've hurt your feelings, or be able to dodge a ball quickly. It points to a lack of sharpness and acuity. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **迟 (chí):** This character's primary meaning is "late" or "slow." Beginners will recognize it from the word [[迟到]] (chídào), meaning "to arrive late." It suggests a delay. | |
| * **钝 (dùn):** This character means "blunt" or "dull." Think of a blunt knife (钝刀 dūndāo) that can't cut well. It represents a lack of sharpness. | |
| By combining "slow/late" (迟) and "blunt/dull" (钝), the word "迟钝" (chídùn) creates a vivid image of a mind, body, or sense that is not sharp and is delayed in its response. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In Chinese culture, which often values quick-wittedness (聪明 cōngming), social intelligence, and the ability to "read the room," being perceived as `迟钝` is highly undesirable in social contexts. It can imply that a person is not only intellectually slow but also socially inept and unable to pick up on subtle cues. | |
| A good comparison in Western culture is the difference between being "thoughtful" and being "dense." A thoughtful person takes time to consider things, which is a positive trait. A person who is `迟钝` is not choosing to be slow; they are perceived as being inherently unable to keep up, making them seem "dense" or "slow on the uptake." This is almost always a negative assessment of someone's capabilities, unless used in a clearly self-deprecating or medical way. The term reflects a cultural appreciation for mental and social agility. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| `迟钝` is a common word with different connotations depending on the context. | |
| * **Describing People (Usually Negative):** This is the most frequent usage. Calling someone `迟钝` is a direct criticism of their intelligence or sensitivity. It's less of a harsh insult than `笨 (bèn)` (stupid) but is still a clear negative judgment. | |
| * //He's a bit slow; you have to explain things to him several times.// | |
| * **Describing Physical Reactions (Neutral to Negative):** It can describe slow reflexes, often due to age, fatigue, or lack of practice. In a competitive context like sports, it's a weakness. When describing an elderly person, it's more of a neutral observation. | |
| * //After staying up all night, my reactions have become very sluggish.// | |
| * **Describing Senses (Neutral):** This is a completely neutral, descriptive usage. It's common in medical or everyday contexts to say one's sense of smell, taste, or hearing has become dull. | |
| * //After I got sick, my sense of taste became very dull.// | |
| * **Formal/Abstract Usage (Neutral):** In business, economics, or news reports, `迟钝` is used formally to mean "sluggish" or "slow-moving." | |
| * //Recent economic growth has been sluggish.// | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 他这个人有点**迟钝**，笑话讲完半天他才笑。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā zhège rén yǒudiǎn **chídùn**, xiàohuà jiǎng wán bàntiān tā cái xiào. | |
| * English: He's a bit slow; he only laughs a long time after the joke is finished. | |
| * Analysis: A classic example of describing someone as mentally slow or "slow on the uptake." The context makes the meaning clear. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 她对别人的感情非常**迟钝**，根本没发现他喜欢她。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā duì biérén de gǎnqíng fēicháng **chídùn**, gēnběn méi fāxiàn tā xǐhuān tā. | |
| * English: She is very insensitive to others' feelings; she didn't realize at all that he likes her. | |
| * Analysis: This shows `迟钝` used to mean emotional insensitivity or being oblivious. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 年纪大了，我的反应越来越**迟钝**了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Niánjì dà le, wǒ de fǎnyìng yuèláiyuè **chídùn** le. | |
| * English: As I've gotten older, my reflexes have become more and more sluggish. | |
| * Analysis: A neutral, self-descriptive use of `迟钝` to talk about physical reactions slowing with age. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 感冒之后，我的味觉和嗅觉都变得很**迟钝**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Gǎnmào zhīhòu, wǒ de wèijué hé xiùjué dōu biànde hěn **chídùn**. | |
| * English: After catching a cold, my senses of taste and smell both became very dull. | |
| * Analysis: Here, `迟钝` is used in a neutral, almost medical sense to describe dulled physical senses. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 对不起，我今天脑子有点**迟钝**，你能再说一遍吗？ | |
| * Pinyin: Duìbùqǐ, wǒ jīntiān nǎozi yǒudiǎn **chídùn**, nǐ néng zài shuō yī biàn ma? | |
| * English: Sorry, my brain is a bit sluggish today, can you say that again? | |
| * Analysis: A common self-deprecating way to use the term, similar to saying "I'm a bit slow today" in English. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 由于市场需求**迟钝**，公司本季度的销售额下降了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Yóuyú shìchǎng xūqiú **chídùn**, gōngsī běn jìdù de xiāoshòu'é xiàjiàng le. | |
| * English: Due to sluggish market demand, the company's sales for this quarter have declined. | |
| * Analysis: This demonstrates the formal, abstract use of `迟钝` in a business or economic context. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 和同龄的孩子相比，他显得有些**迟钝**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Hé tónglíng de háizi xiāngbǐ, tā xiǎnde yǒuxiē **chídùn**. | |
| * English: Compared to children of the same age, he seems a bit slow. | |
| * Analysis: This is a comparative use, often heard in discussions about child development. It's a critical observation. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 这只老猫的动作非常**迟钝**，几乎整天都在睡觉。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè zhī lǎo māo de dòngzuò fēicháng **chídùn**, jīhū zhěng tiān dōu zài shuìjiào. | |
| * English: This old cat's movements are very sluggish; it sleeps almost all day. | |
| * Analysis: Shows that `迟钝` can be used to describe animals as well, typically referring to their physical movements. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 你是不是觉得我**迟钝**？我其实都明白，只是不想说。 | |
| * Pinyin: Nǐ shì bùshì juéde wǒ **chídùn**? Wǒ qíshí dōu míngbái, zhǐshì bùxiǎng shuō. | |
| * English: Do you think I'm dense? I actually understand everything, I just don't want to say it. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence directly confronts the accusation of being `迟钝`, showing its negative social weight. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 面对危机，政府的反应有些**迟钝**，错过了最佳处理时机。 | |
| * Pinyin: Miànduì wēijī, zhèngfǔ de fǎnyìng yǒuxiē **chídùn**, cuòguò le zuìjiā chǔlǐ shíjī. | |
| * English: In the face of the crisis, the government's response was somewhat sluggish, missing the best opportunity to handle it. | |
| * Analysis: Another formal usage, critiquing the response time of an organization or system. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **`迟钝 (chídùn)` vs. `慢 (màn)`:** This is the most critical distinction for learners. | |
| * **`慢 (màn)`** means "slow" in terms of speed. It is objective and often neutral. You can walk slowly (`走得很慢`), eat slowly (`吃得很慢`), or have a slow internet connection (`网速很慢`). | |
| * **`迟钝 (chídùn)`** means "slow" in terms of reaction or acuity. It refers to the mind, reflexes, or senses being "dull" or "sluggish." It's often a negative judgment. | |
| * **Incorrect:** ~~我的车开得很迟钝。~~ (Wǒ de chē kāi de hěn chídùn.) - My car drives sluggishly. | |
| * **Correct:** 我的车开得很**慢**。 (Wǒ de chē kāi de hěn màn.) - My car drives slowly. | |
| * **Rule of Thumb:** If you can replace "slow" with "sluggish," "dull," or "unresponsive," you can likely use `迟钝`. If you just mean "not fast," use `慢`. | |
| * **Don't Confuse with "Thoughtful":** In English, someone who is slow to respond might be "thoughtful" or "deliberate." `迟钝` does not carry this positive connotation. It implies an *inability* to be quick, not a *choice* to be careful. To express "thoughtful," you would use a word like `深思熟虑 (shēnsī-shúlǜ)`. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[反应慢]] (fǎnyìng màn) - A very direct and common way to say "slow reaction." It's less formal and less "heavy" than `迟钝`. | |
| * [[灵敏]] (língmǐn) - **Antonym.** Means "agile," "acute," or "sensitive." You can have `灵敏的反应` (agile reflexes) or `灵敏的嗅觉` (a sharp sense of smell). | |
| * [[笨]] (bèn) - Means "stupid." This is a stronger and more direct insult than `迟钝`. Being `迟钝` might be a reason why someone is considered `笨`. | |
| * [[木讷]] (mùnè) - Describes someone who is "wooden," "inarticulate," and not good at expressing themselves verbally. It's about expressive ability, while `迟钝` is more about comprehension or reaction speed. | |
| * [[呆]] (dāi) - Means "dull," "blank," or "vacant." Often used in `发呆 (fādāi)` (to stare blankly). It overlaps with `迟钝` but often emphasizes a lack of expression. | |
| * [[麻木]] (mámù) - Means "numb" or "apathetic." This is a step beyond `迟钝`. `迟钝` is a dull sense, while `麻木` is a complete lack of feeling, often from emotional shock or physical nerve damage. | |
| * [[聪明]] (cōngming) - **Antonym.** The classic word for "smart" or "intelligent." The opposite of being mentally `迟钝`. | |
| * [[迟到]] (chídào) - "To be late." Sharing the character `迟` (chí), this word helps reinforce the core meaning of "slowness" or "delay." | |