guāi HSK 5

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

这个孩子很乖。
Zhège háizi hěn guāi.
This child is very well-behaved.
乖,听妈妈的话。
Guāi, tīng māmā de huà.
Be good and listen to your mother.
小狗今天特别乖。
Xiǎogǒu jīntiān tèbié guāi.
The puppy is especially obedient today.
这个孩子很乖。
Zhège háizi hěn guāi.
This child is very well-behaved.
小狗很乖。
Xiǎo gǒu hěn guāi.
The puppy is very obedient.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of the character 乖: it contains 千 (qiān, thousand) and 北 (běi, north). Imagine a child who is so well-behaved that they would obediently walk a thousand miles north if you asked them to.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is very common in informal, spoken Chinese, especially in family or educational contexts when praising or describing children. It is rarely used in formal writing. It can also be used affectionately with pets or romantic partners in a playful, endearing way.

📖 Grammar Points

It is most commonly used as a predicate adjective with 很 (hěn), as in '孩子很乖'. It can also be reduplicated as '乖乖', which functions as an adjective or a term of endearment.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, being 乖 is a highly valued trait in children, reflecting respect for elders and social harmony. It is a common form of praise from parents and teachers. The expectation for children to be 乖 is a significant aspect of traditional upbringing.

🔄 Similar Words

听话 (tīnghuà) also means 'obedient' and is very close in meaning, but 乖 has a warmer, more affectionate tone and implies overall good behavior, while 听话 focuses more specifically on listening to and following instructions.

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