话痨

• Pinyin: huà láo
• Hanzi breakdown: 话 (speech) + 痨 (habit/excess in colloquial use) -> compulsive talker.

Meaning

话痨 means someone who talks nonstop.

It can be affectionate among friends or critical when someone monopolizes conversation. The term focuses on quantity of talking, not the quality of ideas.

Examples

1. 他一紧张就变话痨，停不下来。 He turns into a chatterbox when he's nervous and just can't stop talking.
2. 我们宿舍有个快乐话痨。 We have a happy chatterbox in our dorm.
3. 别把善于表达都叫话痨。 Don't call every good communicator a chatterbox.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, family, classroom

Tone: teasing, affectionate, sometimes annoyed

Do Say

• 朋友特别能聊可叫话痨。（It fits nonstop talk.）
• 自嘲今天话多也可说变话痨。（It works self-mockingly.）

Don't Say

• 把正常表达意见叫话痨。（It implies excessive talking.）

Common Mistakes

• Do not use 话痨 for someone quiet but expressive in writing.

Origin & History

A colloquial label built from 话, speech, and 痨, a suffix suggesting an excessive habit.

Cultural Context

Era: 2020s

Generation: Broad casual speakers

Social background: Everyday social groups

Regional notes: Common across Mainland Chinese casual speech.