淘气 táoqì naughty
naughty; mischievous
How to remember 淘气: 淘 to dredge + 气 air = naughty.
Characters
How it is used
- Naughty/mischievous, usually of a child (affectionately) - 淘气的孩子 (táoqì de háizi) a mischievous kid, 别淘气 (bié táoqì) stop being naughty.
- Describes playful, into-everything mischief; warm, not seriously condemning.
- Contrast 调皮 (tiáopí, playful/naughty, near-synonym) and 顽皮 (wánpí); all describe lively kids.