In Chinese culture, which places a high value on social harmony (和谐, héxié) and interpersonal relationships (关系, guānxi), the act of ignoring someone is rarely a neutral one. 不理睬 (bù lǐcǎi) is a powerful social tool. Compared to the Western concept of “giving someone the cold shoulder,” 不理睬 often carries a heavier weight. In a collectivist society, being acknowledged by others is a fundamental part of social standing or “face” (面子, miànzi). To be deliberately ignored is to have your social value publicly denied, which can be a significant slight. It's a form of passive-aggressive communication, allowing someone to express strong disapproval, anger, or hurt without engaging in direct, harmony-disrupting confrontation. For a learner, understanding this term is key to decoding the subtle but potent emotional currents in Chinese social dynamics.
The vast majority of the time, you will encounter 理睬 in its negative form.
The positive form, 理睬, is rare in spoken conversation. It can sound a bit formal or even literary. A native speaker is more likely to use the single character `理 (lǐ)` (e.g., `你理我一下!` - Pay attention to me!) or a word like `回应 (huíyìng)` (to respond).