狼狈

• Pinyin: láng bèi
• Desglose de hanzi: 狼 = 犭(dog) + 良 — wolf; 狈 = 犭(dog) + 贝 (shell) — mythical creature

Significado

Hecho un desastre y avergonzado; en apuros; desaliñado.

Describes a state of being in trouble, embarrassed, or in disarray. Can describe physical appearance (disheveled) or situation (predicament). Often used with 不堪 (unbearably).

Ejemplos

1. 他被雨淋得狼狈不堪。
2. 撒谎被拆穿后，他显得十分狼狈。
3. 敌军狼狈逃窜。

Guía de uso

Contexto: embarrassment, difficulty, appearance

Tono: descriptive

Correcto

• 他逃跑的样子很狼狈。(He looked disheveled when he ran away.)
• 狼狈为奸。(To collude in evil — idiom from the 狼狈 legend.)

Incorrecto

• 用狼狈形容正常的困难。(狼狈 implies embarrassing disarray — use 困难 for ordinary difficulties)

Origen e historia

From a legend about two mythical creatures — 狼 and 狈 — who must cooperate because 狈 has short front legs. Alone, each is helpless.

Contexto cultural

Generación: All ages

Contexto social: Universal