jiǎoqíng: 矫情 - Pretentious, Affected, Overly Sentimental, Drama Queen

Keywords: 矫情, jiaoqing, what does jiaoqing mean, jiaoqing meaning, Chinese drama queen, Chinese pretentious, Chinese overly sentimental, Chinese high-maintenance, 矯情, 矫情的人, Chinese slang

Summary: A key term in modern Chinese, 矫情 (jiǎoqíng) describes a person's behavior as being pretentiously fussy, insincerely sentimental, or needlessly difficult. It's the act of making a big deal out of a small issue, often for attention or to appear delicate. Understanding 矫情 (jiǎoqíng) offers a deep insight into Chinese cultural values that prize sincerity and straightforwardness over affected, “drama queen” behavior.

Pinyin (with tone marks): jiǎoqíng

Part of Speech: Adjective

HSK Level: N/A

Concise Definition: To be affectedly sentimental, pretentious, or fussy in an insincere or exaggerated way.

In a Nutshell: Imagine someone who complains dramatically about a tiny paper cut, or someone who rejects help they obviously need just to seem independent and delicate. That's 矫情. It’s the opposite of being genuine, down-to-earth, and straightforward. The word implies that the emotions or difficulties being displayed are not entirely sincere and are often an inconvenience to others.

矫 (jiǎo): This character can mean “to correct” or “to straighten,” but in this context, it takes on the meaning of “to feign,” “to pretend,” or “to dissemble.”

情 (qíng): This character means “feeling,” “emotion,” “sentiment,” or “passion.”

Together, 矫情 (jiǎoqíng) literally translates to “feigned emotions” or “pretended sentiments.” This combination perfectly captures the core idea of insincere or exaggerated emotional displays.

In Chinese culture, there is a high value placed on being 真诚 (zhēnchéng - sincere), 实在 (shízài - down-to-earth), and 爽快 (shuǎngkuai - straightforward). The concept of 吃苦耐劳 (chī kǔ nài láo - to endure hardship) is also a celebrated virtue. 矫情 is the direct antithesis to these values. To be called 矫情 is to be accused of lacking sincerity, creating unnecessary trouble, and being self-indulgently weak.

Comparison to Western Concepts: While it can be translated as “being a drama queen” or “high-maintenance,” there's a subtle difference. A “drama queen” often creates external conflict and public scenes. 矫情, on the other hand, is often more internal and passive-aggressive. It’s the fussy, self-pitying behavior that makes others feel awkward or burdened. For example, insisting on drinking only a specific brand of imported water isn't just “picky” in Chinese; it's a classic example of being 矫情. It signals a disconnect from the practical, grounded reality that is culturally valued.

Connotation: The term is almost always negative, but its severity depends entirely on the context and relationship between the speakers.

As a Playful Tease: Between close friends, partners, or family, calling someone 矫情 can be a lighthearted way to tell them to stop overthinking things or being difficult. It's a gentle nudge to be more direct. For example: “I bought you a coffee, just drink it! 别矫情了!” (Stop being so fussy!).

As a Serious Criticism: When used to describe a colleague, an acquaintance, or a public figure, 矫情 is a strong criticism of their character. It implies they are fake, attention-seeking, and difficult to deal with.

On Social Media: It's common for people to use the term self-deprecatingly. Someone might post a moody poem or a filtered selfie with the caption, “今天有点矫情” (Feeling a bit sentimental/dramatic today), acknowledging their own moment of over-the-top sentimentality.

Don't Confuse with Genuine Sensitivity: The key ingredient of 矫情 is a perceived lack of sincerity. It's used for exaggerated or feigned emotions, not for genuine emotional responses. Accusing someone of being 矫情 when they are truly upset is highly insensitive. For example, if someone is crying because their pet died, they are sad (难过), not 矫情. If they are crying because it's Monday, that's 矫情.

“False Friend” with “Emotional”: While an emotional person can be 矫情, the words are not interchangeable. “Emotional” (`情绪化 qíngxùhuà`) is a neutral descriptor of someone whose feelings change easily. 矫情 is a negative judgment that implies the feelings are artificial or blown out of proportion.

做作 (zuòzuo) - Artificial; putting on an act. A very close synonym. `做作` often refers more to affected actions and manners, while `矫情` focuses more on feigned emotions and sentiments.

玻璃心 (bōli xīn) - “Glass heart.” Describes someone who is extremely sensitive and easily offended. A person with a `玻璃心` is very likely to behave in a `矫情` manner.

公主病 (gōngzhǔ bìng) - “Princess syndrome.” A colloquial term for a woman who is spoiled, high-maintenance, and expects to be treated like royalty. Being `矫情` is a core symptom of `公主病`.

作 (zuō) - (Colloquial) To act up; to be a pain; to make trouble for no good reason, especially in a relationship. It's very similar to `矫情` but is more of a verb describing the action of being difficult.

无病呻吟 (wú bìng shēn yín) - An idiom meaning “to groan without being sick.” It's the perfect four-character summary for the behavior of being `矫情`.

小题大做 (xiǎo tí dà zuò) - An idiom meaning “to make a big fuss over a minor issue.” This is a common action of someone who is being `矫情`.

装 (zhuāng) - To pretend; to feign; to put on an act. This is the root action behind both `矫情` and `做作`.

爽快 (shuǎngkuai) - Straightforward; frank; direct. This is the positive trait that stands as the direct antonym to being `矫情`.