乖

guāi

adjective HSK 7 #2,379

Meanings

1 well-behaved
2 obedient
3 good (of children)

Characters

well-behaved; obedient

Examples

这个孩子真乖。

Zhège háizi zhēn guāi.

This child is really well-behaved.

乖，别哭了。

Guāi, bié kū le.

Be good now, stop crying.

Tips

usage

乖 is primarily used for children and pets. When used for adults, it can sound patronizing or intimate (between couples).

culture

In Chinese parenting, calling a child 乖 is one of the highest everyday praises, meaning they're obedient and easy to manage.

Stroke Order

乖 guāi