The Chinese idiom **愤世嫉俗 (fènshìjísú)**, meaning "cynical" or "misanthropic," is formed through a classic parallel structure common in four-character phrases. It combines two nearly synonymous verb-object pairs: **愤世** ("to resent the world") and **嫉俗** ("to detest customs"). Here, **愤** (fèn, indignation) and **嫉** (jí, hatred) are parallel verbs expressing strong negative emotion, while **世** (shì, world/society) and **俗** (sú, vulgar customs/conventions) are parallel objects representing the societal norms being rejected. The compound thus intensifies a single concept—a profound disdain for and alienation from mainstream society and its moral failings—through rhythmic repetition and reinforcing semantics, originating from classical literary descriptions of a disillusioned character.