Keywords: 脾气, piqi, bad temper in Chinese, Chinese temperament, pi qi meaning, get angry in Chinese, 发脾气, lose temper, character, personality, disposition, HSK 3
Summary: Discover the meaning of 脾气 (píqi), a fundamental Chinese word for a person's temperament or disposition. While it can describe a good temper, it's most often used to talk about a “bad temper” or the act of “losing one's temper” (发脾气, fā píqi). Understanding 脾气 is essential for navigating social interactions in China, as managing one's temper is closely linked to cultural values of harmony and respect.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): píqi
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: HSK 3
Concise Definition: A person's temperament, disposition, or temper, often referring specifically to irritability or proneness to anger.
In a Nutshell: Think of 脾气 (píqi) as someone's emotional baseline, particularly concerning patience and anger. While you can have a “good temper” (好脾气, hǎo píqi), the word on its own often implies a “bad temper” (坏脾气, huài píqi). It's less about a fleeting mood (心情, xīnqíng) and more about a stable personality trait. Someone with a “big temper” (脾气很大, píqi hěn dà) is someone who gets angry easily.
Character Breakdown
脾 (pí): Spleen. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the spleen is not just a physical organ but is also considered the seat of thought and temperament. An imbalance in the spleen was believed to cause emotional instability and worry.
气 (qì): Air, gas, spirit, vital energy. 气 (qì) is a core concept in Chinese philosophy, representing the life force that flows through all things.
How they combine: The word 脾气 (píqi) literally translates to “spleen energy.” This reflects the ancient TCM belief that one's temperament is directly linked to the state of their internal organs. An unhealthy “spleen energy” would manifest as irritability and a bad temper, which is exactly how the word is used today.
Cultural Context and Significance
Harmony over Confrontation: Chinese culture traditionally places a high value on social harmony (和谐, héxié). Openly losing your temper (发脾气, fā píqi) is seen as a major disruption of this harmony. It can cause everyone involved to lose “face” (面子, miànzi) and is often viewed as a sign of immaturity and a lack of self-control.
Comparison to Western Culture: In many Western cultures, especially American culture, expressing anger can sometimes be interpreted as being “authentic,” “passionate,” or “standing up for yourself.” While these values exist in China too, the method of expression is different. A public outburst of 脾气 is far less socially acceptable than a firm but calm discussion. A person who can remain calm under pressure is seen as wise and respectable. Therefore, controlling one's 脾气 is considered a virtue.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Describing a Person's Temperament: This is the most common usage. It's a standard way to talk about someone's personality in terms of patience.
Positive: 他脾气很好。 (Tā píqi hěn hǎo.) - He has a very good temper.
Negative: 她脾气很坏/很大。 (Tā píqi hěn huài / hěn dà.) - She has a very bad temper. (Using 大 (dà) - “big” - is a very common way to say “bad” in this context).
The Act of Losing One's Temper: The verb-object phrase 发脾气 (fā píqi), “to issue a temper,” is used constantly.
你为什么对我发脾气？ (Nǐ wèishénme duì wǒ fā píqi?) - Why are you losing your temper at me?
Compatibility in Relationships:脾气 is often discussed as a key factor in whether two people can get along, be it in friendships, romance, or business.
我们俩脾气不合。 (Wǒmen liǎ píqi bù hé.) - Our temperaments are not compatible.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
他脾气很好，从来不跟人吵架。
Pinyin: Tā píqi hěn hǎo, cónglái bù gēn rén chǎojià.
English: He has a very good temper; he never argues with people.
Analysis: This shows the positive use of 脾气 modified by 好 (hǎo), meaning “good.” It describes a desirable, stable personality trait.
Example 2:
你脾气太坏了，需要改一改。
Pinyin: Nǐ píqi tài huài le, xūyào gǎi yī gǎi.
English: Your temper is too bad, you need to change it.
Analysis: Here, 坏 (huài), meaning “bad,” explicitly describes a negative temperament. This is a direct criticism.
English: He's in a bad temper today, you'd better not go and provoke him.
Analysis: This specifies the temper for a certain period (“today”). It's subtly different from 心情 (xīnqíng), as it implies active irritability, not just sadness or a low mood.
Example 6:
找对象的时候，脾气相投很重要。
Pinyin: Zhǎo duìxiàng de shíhou, píqi xiāngtóu hěn zhòngyào.
English: When looking for a partner, having compatible temperaments is very important.
Analysis: 相投 (xiāngtóu) means “to be congenial” or “to suit one another.” This highlights the importance of 脾气 in relationship compatibility.
Example 7:
孩子不听话，妈妈终于发脾气了。
Pinyin: Háizi bù tīnghuà, māmā zhōngyú fā píqi le.
English: The child wouldn't listen, and the mom finally lost her temper.
Analysis: The particle 了 (le) indicates the completion of the action 发脾气. This is a classic cause-and-effect sentence.
Example 8:
他是个有脾气的人，不会轻易妥协。
Pinyin: Tā shì ge yǒu píqi de rén, bú huì qīngyì tuǒxié.
English: He's a person with a strong personality/temper; he won't compromise easily.
Analysis: 有脾气 (yǒu píqi) is a nuanced phrase. It can mean “has a bad temper,” but in contexts like this, it can also be a neutral or even positive description of someone who has a backbone and isn't a pushover.
Example 9:
他脾气很急躁，做事没有耐心。
Pinyin: Tā píqi hěn jízào, zuòshì méiyǒu nàixīn.
English: He has a very impatient temper and has no patience when doing things.
Analysis: This links 脾气 with a more specific adjective, 急躁 (jízào), which means “impatient” or “irritable.”
Example 10:
她控制住了自己的脾气，没有当场发作。
Pinyin: Tā kòngzhì zhù le zìjǐ de píqi, méiyǒu dāngchǎng fāzuò.
English: She controlled her temper and didn't blow up on the spot.
Analysis: This sentence shows the opposite of losing one's temper—控制 (kòngzhì), “to control.” This is seen as a highly virtuous action in Chinese culture.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
脾气 (píqi) vs. 心情 (xīnqíng) - Temperament vs. Mood: This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
脾气 (píqi) is a long-term personality trait. He has a bad temper. (他脾气很坏。)
心情 (xīnqíng) is a short-term, temporary feeling or mood. I'm in a bad mood today because I lost my wallet. (我今天心情不好，因为我钱包丢了。)
Mistake: Don't say “我今天脾气不好” if you just mean you're feeling sad or down. Say “我今天心情不好.” If you say “我今天脾气不好,” it means you are feeling irritable and are likely to snap at people.
False Friend: “Temperament”: In English, “temperament” is a neutral word (e.g., an artistic temperament, a calm temperament). In Chinese, while 脾气 can be neutral when modified (e.g., 好脾气), using it alone often carries a negative implication of having a “bad temper.” For example, if someone says “他有脾气 (Tā yǒu píqi),” they most likely mean “He has a (bad) temper.”
Related Terms and Concepts
发脾气 (fā píqi) - The verb-object phrase meaning “to lose one's temper” or “to get angry.” It's the action associated with a bad 脾气.
性格 (xìnggé) - Personality; character. This is a much broader term. Your 脾气 is just one part of your overall 性格.
心情 (xīnqíng) - Mood. The temporary emotional state you are in right now, as opposed to your long-term disposition.
生气 (shēngqì) - To get angry; to be angry. This is the emotion or state of being angry. Having a bad 脾气 means you 生气 easily.
耐心 (nàixīn) - Patience. The direct opposite of having a bad temper. A person with a 好脾气 (hǎo píqi) is usually full of 耐心.
和气 (héqi) - Amiable, gentle, friendly. Describes a state of being or behavior that reflects a good 脾气.
急躁 (jízào) - Impatient; irritable; rash. A specific type of negative 脾气.
面子 (miànzi) - “Face”; social dignity and reputation. Publicly losing your 脾气 is a major way to lose 面子.