乖

guāi

北 + 千

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

guāi (adjective) well-behaved; obedient

guāi (adjective) clever; shrewd

guāi (adjective) perverse; contrary to what is expected

Etymology

About

乖 is an ideogram combining 千 (qiān) with a modified 北 (běi), which depicts two figures back-to-back moving in opposite directions. Its original sense encompassed divergence, perversity, and deviant behavior contrary to established norms. Over time, the meaning underwent a dramatic reversal, shifting from rebelliousness to describing agreeable, cooperative conduct. Today it is nearly always positive, characterizing children or domestic pets as obedient, well-behaved, and cleverly compliant with caregivers' instructions. The older negative connotation lingers only in a few literary compounds and classical idioms.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

妹妹今天很乖。

Mèimei jīntiān hěn guāi.

My younger sister is very well-behaved today.

小狗乖乖地趴着。

Xiǎo gǒu guāiguāi de pā zhe.

The puppy is lying down obediently.

他是个乖学生。

Tā shì gè guāi xuéshēng.

He is a good student.

孩子们乖乖地排队。

Háizimen guāiguāi de páiduì.

The children are lining up obediently.

妈妈希望我乖一点。

Māma xīwàng wǒ guāi yīdiǎn.

Mom hopes I will be more obedient.

尽管调皮，他有时也很乖。

Jǐnguǎn tiáopí, tā yǒushí yě hěn guāi.

Although mischievous, he is sometimes very well-behaved.

在老师面前，他表现得特别乖。

Zài lǎoshī miànqián, tā biǎoxiàn de tèbié guāi.

In front of the teacher, he behaves especially well.

她看似乖巧，实则独立自主。

Tā kàn sì guāiqiǎo, shí zé dúlì zìzhǔ.

She seems obedient, but in reality, she is independent.

Related Characters

Component: 北

Component: 千

乖