耽误

• Pinyin: dān wu
• Desglose de hanzi: 耽 = 耳 + 冘 (to linger); 误 = 讠 + 吴 (to err, to miss)

Significado

Retrasar; hacer perder (una oportunidad o plazo).

Stronger than 耽搁, implying that the delay has led to a tangible negative consequence. Commonly used in contexts of missed opportunities, delayed medical treatment, or failed deadlines.

Ejemplos

1. 治病不能耽误，一旦发现症状要立即就医。
2. 他的优柔寡断耽误了整个团队的工作进展。
3. 由于长期缺课，她耽误了大量的学业。

Guía de uso

Contexto: health, work, education, time

Tono: concerned

Correcto

• 病情严重，不能再耽误了，必须马上手术。(The condition is serious — we cannot delay any longer; surgery must begin immediately.)
• 你耽误了最佳的治疗时机，现在恢复会更难。(You missed the optimal treatment window, making recovery much harder now.)

Incorrecto

• 耽搁 and 耽误 are not always interchangeable — 耽误 implies a negative consequence has already occurred, while 耽搁 is a neutral delay; do not use 耽误 for minor inconveniences

Origen e historia

耽 (to linger, delay) + 误 (to err, to miss)

Contexto cultural

Generación: All ages

Contexto social: Universal