干脆
Traditional: 乾脆
gān cuì HSK 5

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

他说话很干脆。
Tā shuōhuà hěn gāncuì.
He speaks very straightforwardly.
我们干脆现在出发。
Wǒmen gāncuì xiànzài chūfā.
Let's just leave now.
这个决定很干脆。
Zhège juédìng hěn gāncuì.
This decision is very clear-cut.
他很干脆。
Tā hěn gāncuì.
He is very straightforward.
回答很干脆。
Huídá hěn gāncuì.
The answer is very clear-cut.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of it as 'dry and brittle' (from the characters 干 dry and 脆 brittle). Something dry and brittle snaps cleanly and decisively—just like a 干脆 decision cuts through hesitation.

📝 Usage Notes

It is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, in informal to semi-formal contexts. It is often used to describe a decision or action taken to resolve a situation decisively, especially when faced with difficulty, hesitation, or an unsatisfactory alternative.

📖 Grammar Points

It is primarily used as an adverb before a verb to modify the action (e.g., 干脆买了). It can also be used as an adjective to describe a person's character as straightforward (e.g., 他这个人很干脆).

🏯 Cultural Notes

The value of being 干脆 is often appreciated in Chinese culture as a positive trait, associated with efficiency, decisiveness, and not beating around the bush, especially in practical matters.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 简单 (jiǎndān, simple), which describes something as uncomplicated, 干脆 focuses on the decisiveness of an action. Compared to 直接 (zhíjiē, direct), which describes a method or manner, 干脆 carries a stronger connotation of making a resolute choice to cut through complexity.

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