fúzào: 浮躁 - Impetuous, Fickle, Restless

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• Summary: Discover the meaning of 浮躁 (fúzào), a crucial Chinese term describing a state of being impetuous, restless, and unable to focus. This page explores why fúzào is more than just “impatience”; it's a deeply cultural concept reflecting a lack of substance and a flighty state of mind, often used to critique modern society's obsession with quick success. Learn how to use it correctly in conversation and understand its significance in Chinese thought.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fúzào
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: Describes a state of being impetuous, restless, and unable to settle down or focus, often with a connotation of being superficial.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a cork bobbing on choppy water—it's unstable, goes wherever the current pushes it, and has no depth. That's the feeling of 浮躁 (fúzào). It's not just about physical restlessness; it's a mental and emotional state of being flighty, impatient, and chasing the next shiny object without deep thought or commitment. It's the direct opposite of being grounded, calm, and steadfast.

• 浮 (fú): This character means “to float,” “superficial,” or “unstable.” It's composed of the water radical (氵) on the left and a phonetic component on the right. The character vividly paints a picture of something lacking weight or substance, just floating on the surface.
• 躁 (zào): This character means “impatient,” “restless,” or “agitated.” It features the foot radical (足) on the left, suggesting restless movement, and a component on the right that implies noise or commotion. It points to a frenetic, agitated energy.

When combined, 浮躁 (fúzào) literally means “floating and restless.” The image is powerful: a person or even a society that is ungrounded, easily agitated, and lacks the calm stability needed for deep achievement.

In Chinese culture, 浮躁 (fúzào) is a significant and often sharp criticism. Traditional values, influenced by Confucianism and Taoism, place a high premium on patience (耐心 nàixīn), perseverance (毅力 yìlì), and being down-to-earth (踏实 tāshi). A person who is calm, focused, and works steadily towards a goal is highly respected. 浮躁 (fúzào) is the antithesis of these virtues. It's seen as a character flaw that prevents true success and self-cultivation. In modern China, the term is frequently used to critique societal trends. The rapid economic development has created what many call a “浮躁的社会 (fúzào de shèhuì)“—an impetuous society where people are obsessed with “get-rich-quick” schemes, instant fame, and superficial trends, rather than craftsmanship and long-term dedication. Comparison to Western Culture: While you might translate 浮躁 as “fickle,” “impetuous,” or having a “short attention span,” these English terms don't carry the same moral weight. In the West, being “restless” can sometimes be framed positively, as a sign of ambition or a desire for new experiences. In contrast, being labeled 浮躁 in a Chinese context is almost always negative. It implies you lack the seriousness, depth, and stability required to be a reliable and respectable person. It's a critique not just of your behavior, but of your inner state and character.

浮躁 is a common word used in a variety of contexts, almost always with a negative connotation.

• Describing a Person's Character: This is the most common usage. It's a criticism of someone who can't stick with anything—be it a job, a hobby, or a relationship.
  • e.g., “He's job-hopped three times this year; he's just too impetuous.”
• Describing an Internal Feeling: You can use it to describe your own state of mind when you feel unsettled, anxious, and unable to concentrate on a task.
  • e.g., “With the exam coming up, I'm feeling very restless and can't seem to study.”
• Describing a Social Atmosphere: As mentioned above, it's often used to describe the general mood of an era, an industry, or society as a whole.
  • e.g., “The current social atmosphere is too impetuous; everyone wants instant success.”

• Example 1:
  • 现在的年轻人想法很多，但有时候有点儿浮躁，不够踏实。
  • Pinyin: Xiànzài de niánqīngrén xiǎngfǎ hěn duō, dàn yǒu shíhòu yǒudiǎnr fúzào, búgòu tāshi.
  • English: Young people today have a lot of ideas, but sometimes they are a bit impetuous and not grounded enough.
  • Analysis: This is a classic comment an older person might make about the younger generation. It directly contrasts 浮躁 (fúzào) with its antonym, 踏实 (tāshi), meaning “down-to-earth” or “steadfast.”
• Example 2:
  • 天气太热了，我心里很浮躁，看不进去书。
  • Pinyin: Tiānqì tài rè le, wǒ xīnli hěn fúzào, kàn bu jìnqù shū.
  • English: The weather is too hot; I feel very restless and can't focus on my book.
  • Analysis: Here, 浮躁 describes a temporary internal state. The feeling of being agitated and unable to concentrate is directly linked to an external cause (the heat).
• Example 3:
  • 做学问要静下心来，不能太浮躁。
  • Pinyin: Zuò xuéwèn yào jìng xià xīn lái, bùnéng tài fúzào.
  • English: To do academic research, you must quiet your mind and not be too impetuous.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the need for a calm, steady mind (静下心来) for deep, meaningful work, positioning 浮躁 as the primary obstacle.
• Example 4:
  • 他被这个浮躁的社会影响，总想着一夜暴富。
  • Pinyin: Tā bèi zhège fúzào de shèhuì yǐngxiǎng, zǒng xiǎngzhe yí yè bàofù.
  • English: Influenced by this impetuous society, he's always thinking about getting rich overnight.
  • Analysis: This shows how 浮躁 can be used to describe a collective atmosphere. “Getting rich overnight” (一夜暴富) is a classic symptom of a 浮躁 mindset.
• Example 5:
  • 领导批评他做事浮躁，细节上错漏百出。
  • Pinyin: Lǐngdǎo pīpíng tā zuòshì fúzào, xìjié shàng cuòlòu bǎichū.
  • English: The boss criticized him for being impetuous in his work, resulting in numerous errors in the details.
  • Analysis: This example links 浮躁 directly to poor performance. The lack of a calm, focused approach leads to careless mistakes.
• Example 6:
  • 别那么浮躁，先踏踏实实地把基础打好。
  • Pinyin: Bié nàme fúzào, xiān tātāshíshí de bǎ jīchǔ dǎ hǎo.
  • English: Don't be so impetuous; first, build a solid foundation in a down-to-earth way.
  • Analysis: This is common advice given to a learner or a junior employee. It highlights the cultural value of building skills slowly and carefully.
• Example 7:
  • 他的文章风格浮躁，辞藻华丽但缺乏思想深度。
  • Pinyin: Tā de wénzhāng fēnggé fúzào, cízǎo huálì dàn quēfá sīxiǎng shēndù.
  • English: His writing style is superficial; the language is ornate but lacks intellectual depth.
  • Analysis: 浮躁 can also describe creative work. It implies a focus on surface-level flashiness over genuine substance.
• Example 8:
  • 我最近感到内心很浮躁，也许我应该去旅行，让自己平静下来。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zuìjìn gǎndào nèixīn hěn fúzào, yěxǔ wǒ yīnggāi qù lǚxíng, ràng zìjǐ píngjìng xiàlái.
  • English: I've been feeling very unsettled inside lately; maybe I should go traveling to calm myself down.
  • Analysis: This shows self-awareness of the state of being 浮躁. The speaker recognizes it as a negative state that needs a remedy (calming down).
• Example 9:
  • 在这个充满诱惑的行业里，保持不浮躁的心态很重要。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhège chōngmǎn yòuhuò de hángyè lǐ, bǎochí bù fúzào de xīntài hěn zhòngyào.
  • English: In this industry full of temptations, it's very important to maintain a mindset that isn't fickle.
  • Analysis: This highlights 浮躁 as a response to external pressures and temptations. The ability to resist them and stay grounded is presented as a valuable skill.
• Example 10:
  • 戒骄戒躁是每个成功人士必备的品质。
  • Pinyin: Jiè jiāo jiè zào shì měi ge chénggōng rénshì bìbèi de pǐnzhì.
  • English: Guarding against arrogance and impetuousness is a necessary quality for every successful person.
  • Analysis: Here, 躁 (zào) is used in a common four-character phrase, “戒骄戒躁” (guard against arrogance and impetuousness). It's a well-known maxim emphasizing humility and stability.

• Mistake 1: Confusing it with simple impatience.
  • 浮躁 is not just about wanting something to happen quickly. A person waiting impatiently for a bus is not necessarily 浮躁. 浮躁 implies a deeper character trait of being unstable, superficial, and unable to commit to a task that requires patience and focus.
• False Friend: “Restless.”
  • While “restless” is a part of the meaning, it's a weaker translation. In English, saying “I feel restless” can be a neutral observation. However, saying “我心里很浮躁 (wǒ xīnli hěn fúzào)” is a self-criticism. It identifies a negative internal state that you feel you should overcome.
• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • WRONG: 我很浮躁地等待周末的派对！ (Wǒ hěn fúzào de děngdài zhōumò de pàiduì!)
  • (I'm impetuously waiting for the weekend party!)
  • Why it's wrong: 浮躁 is negative. For positive anticipation or excitement, you should use words like 激动 (jīdòng - excited) or the idiom 迫不及待 (pòbùjídài - can't wait).
  • CORRECT: 我迫不及待地等待周末的派对！ (Wǒ pòbùjídài de děngdài zhōumò de pàiduì!)

• 踏实 (tāshi) - The direct antonym. Describes someone who is grounded, down-to-earth, reliable, and steadfast.
• 沉稳 (chénwěn) - A strong antonym. Describes a personality that is calm, steady, and composed, especially under pressure.
• 耐心 (nàixīn) - Patience. A key virtue that a 浮躁 person lacks.
• 急躁 (jízào) - Impatient, irritable. Similar to 浮躁, but 急躁 focuses more on a hot-tempered, urgent emotional reaction, while 浮躁 describes a deeper state of being flighty and superficial.
• 心神不宁 (xīnshénbùníng) - An idiom meaning “to feel distracted and uneasy.” It's a perfect description of the feeling of being in a 浮躁 state.
• 静心 (jìngxīn) - To quiet one's mind. This is the action or practice one undertakes to combat the state of 浮躁.
• 急功近利 (jígōngjìnlì) - An idiom: “eager for quick success and instant benefit.” This is the typical motivation and behavior of a 浮躁 person or society.
• 毛躁 (máozào) - Rash, careless, clumsy. This term is related but focuses more on the careless actions that result from a restless state, rather than the state itself.