脾气

• Pinyin: pí qi
• Hanzi breakdown: 脾 = 月 (flesh) + 卑, spleen; 气 = simplified from 氣, air/energy

Meaning

Temper; disposition. A person's characteristic temperament or tendency to get angry.

Describes both general temperament (好脾气 good temper, 坏脾气 bad temper) and episodes of anger (发脾气 lose one's temper). Also used for personality compatibility: 脾气合得来 (temperaments match). In TCM, 脾气 also refers to spleen function.

Examples

1. 他脾气很好，从来不跟人吵架。 He has a very good temper and never argues with people.
2. 你别跟她发脾气，她只是个孩子。 Don't lose your temper with her; she's just a child.
3. 老板今天脾气不好，大家都小心翼翼的。 The boss is in a bad mood today; everyone is being very careful.

Usage Guide

Context: personality, emotions, relationships

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 控制好自己的脾气。(Keep your temper under control.)
• 她脾气有点急。(She's a bit hot-tempered.)

Don't Say

• 这本书有好脾气。(脾气 is for people/animals, not objects)

Origin & History

脾 (pí, spleen) + 气 (qì, air/temperament). Traditional Chinese medicine believed the spleen affected emotions and temperament.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal