小辫子

小辮子
xiǎobiànzi
noun #22,027

Measure Word

Meanings

  1. 1 small braid / pigtail
  2. 2 (figurative) a flaw or fault that can be used against someone
  3. 3 leverage / dirt on someone

Examples

Tā shū zhe liǎng tiáo xiǎobiànzi, kàn qǐlái hěn kě'ài.
She wore two little braids and looked very cute.
Nǐ zuòshì yào xiǎoxīn, bié ràng biérén zhuā dào xiǎobiànzi.
Be careful in what you do — don't let others catch you making a mistake they can use against you.

Tips

culture
The expression 小辫子 (zhuā xiǎobiànzi, 'to grab someone's little braid') dates from when Qing dynasty men wore the characteristic queue hairstyle. Grabbing someone's braid meant catching them — metaphorically catching them in a fault or wrongdoing.

Stroke Order

xiǎo
biàn