敷衍

fūyǎn

verb #14,039

Meanings

1 to do something half-heartedly; to go through the motions
2 perfunctory; to skimp
3 barely enough to get by

Characters

to spread; to apply

to extend; to overflow

Examples

他总是敷衍了事，从不认真。

Tā zǒngshì fūyǎnliǎoshì, cóngbù rènzhēn.

He always does things half-heartedly and is never serious.

别敷衍我，给个明确的答复。

Bié fūyǎn wǒ, gěi gè míngquè de dáfù.

Don't brush me off; give me a clear answer.

Tips

usage

Common collocations: 敷衍了事 (fūyǎnliǎoshì, to do things perfunctorily), 敷衍塞责 (fūyǎnsèzé, to shirk responsibility). When directed at a person, 敷衍我 means 'to brush me off / give me the runaround'.

Stroke Order

敷 fū

衍 yǎn