半吊子

Chinese

	half; semi-; incomplete half; semi-; incomplete; (after a number) and a half	to hang a person	child; son; (noun suff.) child; son; (noun suff.); small thing; midnight; 11 p.m.-1 a.m.; seed; egg; 1st earthly branch
trad. (半吊子/半弔子)	半	吊/弔	子
simp. (半吊子)	半	吊	子
Literally: “one who is half a diao”.

Etymology

In ancient China, a diao (吊) was a thousand copper coins strung together. Half a diao (半吊) referred to five hundred coins, and became to be used metaphorically for someone who is deficient in skills or mental capacity. Compare 二百五 (èrbǎiwǔ).

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): bàndiàozi

(Zhuyin): ㄅㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ˙ㄗ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Pinyin: bàndiàozi
  - Zhuyin: ㄅㄢˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ˙ㄗ
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: banndiaw.tzy
  - IPA ^(key): /pa̠n⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹ d͡z̥z̩¹/

Noun

半吊子

(figuratively, colloquial, pejorative) one who lacks adequate knowledge or skills; dilettante; smatterer; dabbler
(figuratively, colloquial, pejorative) hot-headed or impulsive person; one who leaves tasks unfinished, or the tasks which are unfinished

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