寒碜

寒磣

hánchen

adjective #36,998

Meanings

1 ugly; shabby; unsightly
2 shameful; embarrassing
3 to ridicule; to mock (someone) for being shabby

Characters

gritty / ugly (here neutral tone)

Examples

这件衣服穿出去太寒碜了。

Zhè jiàn yīfu chuān chūqù tài hánchen le.

It would be too shabby to wear this outfit out.

别拿他的旧车寒碜他。

Bié ná tā de jiù chē hánchen tā.

Don't make fun of him over his old car.

婚礼办得这么简单，不会寒碜吗？

Hūnlǐ bàn de zhème jiǎndān, bú huì hánchen ma?

Won't a wedding this simple look embarrassing?

Tips

register

寒碜 is colloquial northern Mandarin with two distinct uses: as an adjective ('shabby, embarrassing') and as a verb ('to mock someone for looking shabby'). The second syllable is pronounced neutral tone (chen, not chěn). Standard simplified writing also accepts 寒磣.

Stroke Order

寒 hán

碜 chěn