The Chinese word “瞎” (xiā) has several meanings depending on context, and when used as a grammar structure, it’s often colloquial and expressive.
Basic Meaning of “瞎”
“瞎” literally means “blind”, but in colloquial speech, it’s used as an adverb meaning:
“randomly,” “recklessly,” “without thinking,” or “nonsense.”
Grammar Pattern
瞎 + Verb
This pattern expresses that the action is done recklessly or without a clear reason or logic.
Examples & English Explanation
| Chinese | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 你别瞎说！ | Nǐ bié xiā shuō! | Don’t talk nonsense! / Stop talking rubbish! |
| 他总是瞎忙。 | Tā zǒngshì xiā máng. | He’s always busy doing meaningless things. |
| 她瞎写了一篇作文。 | Tā xiā xiě le yì piān zuòwén. | She just wrote the essay randomly / without thinking. |
| 你瞎猜也猜不到。 | Nǐ xiā cāi yě cāi bú dào. | You won’t guess it just by guessing randomly. |
English Equivalent Structures:
Do something blindly
Do something randomly
Talk nonsense
Mess around / act carelessly
Tips for Learners
“瞎” is very colloquial and slightly informal, often used in spoken Chinese.
You can usually substitute “瞎” with more formal or neutral adverbs like “随便” (casually), but “瞎” has a stronger emotional or critical tone.