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March 24, 2026
讨厌(討厭)tǎoyàn(tao3yan4)
讨厌 (tǎo yàn) means to dislike or loathe something or someone. It is commonly used to express annoyance or dissatisfaction, often in informal contexts, such as when discussing things that bother you or people you find irritating.
Frequency#582DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing dislike directly can be viewed as impolite; therefore, people might use more subtle expressions or humor to convey their feelings about something they find annoying.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person saying '讨厌' while scrunching their face in disgust at a plate of food they don't want to eat. The character 讨 (tǎo) looks like a person with arms outstretched, trying to 'take away' something they dislike, while 厌 (yàn) resembles a person being overwhelmed by something unpleasant.
Meanings of 讨厌
tǎoyàn(tao3yan4)
1to dislike
2to loathe
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About 讨厌
讨厌Simplified
討厭Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#582Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 讨厌
Podcast: 讨厌
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AI Study Notes for 讨厌
Quick Contrast
厌恶 (yànwù) vs 讨厌 (tǎoyàn): 讨厌 is generally less intense and more casual than 厌恶, which conveys a stronger sense of disgust.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person saying '讨厌' while scrunching their face in disgust at a plate of food they don't want to eat. The character 讨 (tǎo) looks like a person with arms outstretched, trying to 'take away' something they dislike, while 厌 (yàn) resembles a person being overwhelmed by something unpleasant.
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 讨厌, as it can come across as very direct or rude if used inappropriately. It is more suitable for casual conversations among friends rather than formal settings. Common collocations include 讨厌的事 (things that are annoying) and 讨厌的人 (people that are disliked).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 讨厌 connects well with other verbs expressing feelings or opinions. Focus on using it with other descriptive words to enhance your vocabulary about preferences and dislikes, like 喜欢 (xǐ huān, to like) or 爱 (ài, to love).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing dislike directly can be viewed as impolite; therefore, people might use more subtle expressions or humor to convey their feelings about something they find annoying.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 讨厌 by applying it too broadly, such as saying '我讨厌工作' (I dislike work) when a milder phrase like '我不喜欢工作' (I don't like work) would be more appropriate. Also, some confuse the tones, mispronouncing it as 'táo yàn'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 讨厌
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Grammar Patterns of 讨厌
讨厌 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
nèi xīn lǐ wǒ jué dé tā shì gè fēi cháng tǎo yàn de jiā huǒ.
Underneath I think he's actually a rather nasty piece of work.
6
他是个讨厌的乡巴佬。
tā shì gè tǎo yàn de xiāng bā lǎo。
He is an obnoxious hick.
7
讨厌、好管闲事的家伙
tǎo yàn、 、 hǎo guǎn xián shì de jiā
a nasty officious little man
8
特德讨厌各种派对，即便是他自己喜欢的人的聚会也不例外。
tè dé tǎo yàn gè zhǒng pài duì， ， jí biàn shì tā zì jǐ xǐ huān de rén de jù huì yě bù lì。
Ted hated parties, even gatherings of people he liked individually.
9
它真让人讨厌，快把我的狗吓死了。
tā zhēn ràng rén tǎo yàn， ， kuài bǎ wǒ de gǒu xià sǐ。
It's a blooming nuisance because it frightens my dog to death.
10
我一直都很讨厌那座雕像。它让我心里发毛。
wǒ yī zhí dū hěn tǎo yàn nà zuò diāo xiàng。 。 tā ràng wǒ xīn lǐ fā。
I always hated that statue. It gave me the creeps.
Cultural Notes for 讨厌
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, expressing dislike directly can be viewed as impolite; therefore, people might use more subtle expressions or humor to convey their feelings about something they find annoying.
Frequently Asked Questions about 讨厌
Yes, 讨厌 can be used to describe food you dislike, though it might sound strong. You could say '我讨厌这个菜' (I dislike this dish).
No, 讨厌 is informal and might come off as rude in formal conversations; consider using a softer expression instead.
It is pronounced as 'tǎo yàn'. Make sure to use the third tone for 讨 and the fourth tone for 厌.
