HSK 7-9 — 怠工 to 得不偿失

Introduction

HSK 7-9 vocabulary represents near-native proficiency — advanced academic, professional, and literary Chinese used by educated speakers in sophisticated contexts.

This chapter covers 55 words from 怠工 to 得不偿失, spanning nuanced meanings across formal registers, specialised domains, and idiomatic expression.

Themes

All HSK 7-9 Vocabulary in This Chapter (55)

1. 但愿 dàn yuàn To hope; to wish; used to express a sincere but uncertain desire that something will happen or be true.
2. 倒下 dǎo xia To fall down; to collapse; to go down. A verb describing the act of falling or toppling, used for both people and objects.
3. 倒卖 dǎo mài To resell goods at inflated prices for profit; to scalp. A verb describing buying goods cheaply and reselling at a higher price, often im...
4. 倒塌 dǎo tā To collapse; to fall down; to topple over. A verb describing the structural collapse of buildings, walls, bridges, or other physical stru...
5. 倒数 dào shǔ To count backward; to count in reverse order. Also used as a modifier meaning last or bottom-ranked when counting from the end.
6. 倒计时 dào jì shí Countdown; to count down. Refers to counting backward from a number to zero, marking the approach of a significant event or deadline.
7. 倒霉 dǎo méi To be unlucky; to have bad luck. An adjective and verb phrase expressing misfortune or ill fate, used colloquially to describe unfortunat...
8. 到位 dào wèi In place; thorough; fully realized; up to standard. Describes something done completely, correctly, or to the required level of quality.
9. 到头来 dào tóu lái In the end; ultimately; when all is said and done. An adverb indicating the final outcome of a process, often with a sense of irony or di...
10. 单方面 dān fāng miàn Unilateral; one-sided. Describes actions, decisions, or statements made by only one party in a relationship or negotiation.
11. 单薄 dān bó Thin; frail; weak; lacking in substance or depth. Describes a person's physique, insufficient clothing, or content that lacks rigour.
12. 单身 dān shēn Single; unmarried; without a romantic partner.
13. 单边 dān biān Unilateral; involving or affecting only one side or party.
14. 导向 dǎo xiàng To guide or orient toward a goal or direction; the guiding orientation or principle behind a policy, design, or approach.
15. 导师 dǎo shī An academic supervisor or tutor; a mentor or guide. In modern Chinese academia, specifically the professor who supervises a graduate stud...
16. 导弹 dǎo dàn A guided missile; a self-propelled projectile guided to its target. The standard Chinese military term for missiles of all types.
17. 导火索 dǎo huǒ suǒ A fuse used to ignite an explosive; figuratively, the immediate trigger or catalyst for a major event or conflict.
18. 导航 dǎo háng To navigate; to guide a vessel, vehicle, or person along a route. Also a noun for navigation systems or services.
19. 岛屿 dǎo yǔ Islands; a general or collective term for islands. Refers to land masses surrounded by water, whether a single island or an archipelago.
20. 当下 dāng xià At the present moment; right now; immediately. Can refer to the current time period or to instantaneous action.
21. 当之无愧 dāng zhī wú kuì Fully deserving of an honour or title; to merit something without any sense of unworthiness.
22. 当事人 dāng shì rén The party directly involved in an event, dispute, or legal matter; the person concerned or affected.
23. 当今 dāng jīn The present time; nowadays; the current era. Refers to the contemporary world or current state of affairs.
24. 当众 dāng zhòng In public; in front of everyone present; before a crowd or group. Emphasises that an action occurs openly with witnesses.
25. 当务之急 dāng wù zhī jí The most pressing matter at hand; the top priority that must be addressed immediately above all else.
26. 当即 dāng jí Immediately; at once. Indicates that an action was taken without any delay upon receiving information or a directive.
27. 当心 dāng xīn To be careful; to pay attention; to watch out. Used as a warning or instruction to exercise caution.
28. 当日 dāng rì That day; the same day; on the day in question. Refers to a specific day already established in context.
29. 当晚 dàng wǎn That evening; the evening of the day in question. Refers back to a specific evening already established in context.
30. 当着 dāng zhe In the presence of; in front of (someone). Indicates that an action takes place with specific people witnessing it.
31. 当面 dāng miàn Face-to-face; in person; directly in the presence of someone. Indicates that communication or action occurs with the person physically pr...
32. 得不偿失 dé bù cháng shī The gain does not compensate for the loss; not worth the effort or sacrifice. A four-character idiom describing situations where the cost...
33. 怠工 dài gōng Work slowdown; to deliberately reduce work output as a form of protest or labor action.
34. 怠慢 dài màn To neglect; to treat someone with insufficient attention or hospitality; to be remiss toward a guest.
35. 悼念 dào niàn To mourn; to grieve for; to commemorate. A verb expressing sorrow and remembrance for someone who has passed away, typically in a formal ...
36. 担 dān To carry on a shoulder pole; to bear or shoulder (a responsibility, burden, or risk).
37. 担子 dàn zi A shoulder pole with loads; burden; the weight of responsibilities or obligations a person must carry.
38. 担当 dān dāng To take on (a role or responsibility); a sense of responsibility and commitment to one's duties.
39. 担负 dān fù To shoulder; to bear (a mission, task, or responsibility); to be responsible for.
40. 捣乱 dǎo luàn To make trouble; to disrupt; to cause chaos. A verb meaning to deliberately interfere with normal proceedings or create disorder.
41. 档次 dàng cì Grade, level, or tier of quality, status, or price. Used to categorise things or people according to a hierarchical standard.
42. 淡化 dàn huà To dilute; to play down; to weaken the intensity, significance, or visibility of something.
43. 淡季 dàn jì Off-season; slack season; a period of reduced business activity or demand.
44. 盗 dào To steal; to rob; to take by theft. A verb and root morpheme meaning to take something unlawfully. Functions independently in formal cont...
45. 盗窃 dào qiè To steal; to commit theft. A verb and noun referring to the unlawful taking of property. The standard legal and formal term for theft.
46. 稻草 dào cǎo Straw; rice straw. The dried stalks of rice plants after harvest, used as animal fodder, thatching material, or in traditional crafts.
47. 耽搁 dān ge To delay; to be held up; to waste time on something. Implies an unwanted pause or interruption in progress.
48. 耽误 dān wu To delay; to miss (an opportunity, deadline, or chance); to cause harm or loss through delay.
49. 胆子 dǎn zi Courage; nerve; the capacity to face danger or difficulty without fear.
50. 胆怯 dǎn qiè Timid; cowardly; lacking the courage to face challenges or difficulties.
51. 荡漾 dàng yàng To ripple or undulate (of water or sound); to surge or be filled with (of emotions). Describes gentle oscillating movement or emotion spr...
52. 蛋白质 dàn bái zhì Protein; a class of large biomolecules essential for bodily structure, function, and regulation.
53. 诞辰 dàn chén Birthday; the anniversary of birth. Used in formal or literary contexts, especially for historical figures, dignitaries, or the deceased.
54. 逮捕 dài bǔ To arrest; to apprehend and detain a suspect under legal authority.
55. 道具 dào jù Prop; stage property; theatrical accessory. A noun referring to objects used in film, theatre, or other performances to create atmosphere...