小作怡情

Chinese

		small; tiny; few small; tiny; few; young	high-maintenance; pretentious	to lighten one's heart; to cultivate the mind
trad. (小作怡情)		小	作	怡情
simp. #(小作怡情)		小	作	怡情

Etymology

Built on the existing 小酌怡情 (xiǎozhuóyíqíng, “drinking a small amount of alcohol keeps the mood light”), using the similar-sounding slang term 作 (zuō, “high-maintenance; pretentious; etc.”).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): xiǎozuōyíqíng

  (Zhuyin): ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄗㄨㄛ ㄧˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: xiǎozuōyíqíng
    • Zhuyin: ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄗㄨㄛ ㄧˊ ㄑㄧㄥˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: siǎozuoyícíng
    • Wade–Giles: hsiao³-tso¹-i²-chʻing²
    • Yale: syǎu-dzwō-yí-chíng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: sheautzuoyichyng
    • Palladius: сяоцзоицин (sjaoczoicin)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵⁵ i³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

Idiom

小作怡情

1. (neologism) being “moderately high-maintenance” (i.e. affected and drama queen-like, yet coquettish) keeps the love relationship fun

Usage notes

Often followed by 大作傷身 (“being a big drama queen is deadly”).