浮躁

• Pinyin: fú zào
• Hanzi breakdown: 浮 = 氵 + 孚 (unsettled, floating); 躁 = 足 + 喿 (restless, impetuous)

Meaning

Impetuous; restless; impatient; lacking calm and focus; easily distracted or irritated.

A negative trait describing someone who lacks patience and depth, jumps to conclusions, or cannot settle down. Common in self-criticism and social commentary. Frequently contrasted with 沉稳 (composed) or 踏实 (grounded).

Examples

1. 年轻人往往性情浮躁，难以静下心来深入钻研一门学问。 Young people are often restless and impatient, and it’s hard for them to settle down and study a subject in depth.
2. 现代社会节奏过快，容易让人滋生浮躁情绪。 The pace of modern society is too fast, and it can easily stir up a sense of restlessness.
3. 他克服了浮躁的心态，沉下心来认真完成了毕业论文。 He overcame his impatient, restless mindset, calmed down, and worked seriously to finish his graduation thesis.

Usage Guide

Context: personality, social-commentary

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 当下社会风气有些浮躁，大家都急于求成。(There is a somewhat restless atmosphere in today's society, with everyone eager for quick results.)
• 他意识到自己过于浮躁，于是开始练习冥想来平复心绪。(He realized he was too impetuous and began practicing meditation to calm his mind.)

Don't Say

• 这道菜的味道很浮躁 — 浮躁 describes a person's temperament, not a physical quality; use 躁 or other adjectives for tastes or textures

Origin & History

浮 (floating/unsettled) + 躁 (restless/hasty)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal