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March 24, 2026
应付(應付)yìngfu(ying4fu5)
应付 (yìngfu) means to deal with or cope with a situation or task. It is often used in contexts where someone has to manage challenges or fulfill responsibilities, sometimes implying a sense of doing just enough to get by rather than excelling.
Frequency#2548DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese work culture, the concept of 应付 is often associated with the pressure to meet expectations, especially in high-stakes environments. It reflects a pragmatic approach to challenges, where sometimes the goal is to simply meet demands rather than exceed them.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person juggling various tasks (应) while trying to pay the bills (付). Visualize them barely managing to keep everything up in the air, which helps recall that 应付 relates to handling responsibilities, often with a sense of struggle. The '应' looks like a person standing up to the challenge, while '付' can remind you of paying for the effort put in.
Meanings of 应付
yìngfu(ying4fu5)
1to deal with
2to cope
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 应付
应付Simplified
應付Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#2548Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 应付
Podcast: 应付
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AI Study Notes for 应付
Quick Contrast
应对 (yìngduì) — use 应付 when implying a minimal effort to manage a situation, while 应对 suggests a more proactive or strategic response.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person juggling various tasks (应) while trying to pay the bills (付). Visualize them barely managing to keep everything up in the air, which helps recall that 应付 relates to handling responsibilities, often with a sense of struggle. The '应' looks like a person standing up to the challenge, while '付' can remind you of paying for the effort put in.
Usage Notes
This term can have a slightly negative connotation, suggesting that one is just getting by rather than thriving. Be careful not to confuse 应付 with more positive terms like 处理 (chǔlǐ), which means to handle something more effectively. It is often used in informal settings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 应付 connects well with other words that describe actions related to managing tasks, such as 处理 (to handle) or 应用 (to apply). Focus on understanding its usage in various contexts and practice forming sentences that show both the positive and negative connotations.
Cultural Note
In Chinese work culture, the concept of 应付 is often associated with the pressure to meet expectations, especially in high-stakes environments. It reflects a pragmatic approach to challenges, where sometimes the goal is to simply meet demands rather than exceed them.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 应付 with 适应 (shìyìng), which means to adapt. For example, saying '我应付新环境' (I cope with the new environment) is incorrect; it should be '我适应新环境' (I adapt to the new environment).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 应付
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Grammar Patterns of 应付
应付 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 2 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
医生们抱怨他们疲于____医药公司的销售人员。
Doctors are complaining about being barraged by drug-company salesmen.
Example Sentences for 应付 (10)
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1
医生们抱怨他们疲于应付医药公司的销售人员。
yī shēng mén bào yuàn tā mén pí yú yīng fù yī yào gōng sī de xiāo shòu rén yuán。
Doctors are complaining about being barraged by drug-company salesmen.
2
我认为我们已经准备好了应付每一种可能的危险.
wǒ rèn wéi wǒ mén yǐ jīng zhǔn bèi hǎo le yīng fù měi yī zhǒng kě néng de wēi xiǎn.
I think we have provided for every possible hazard.
What counts for me is for the clients to have fun and be happy.
Cultural Notes for 应付
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese work culture, the concept of 应付 is often associated with the pressure to meet expectations, especially in high-stakes environments. It reflects a pragmatic approach to challenges, where sometimes the goal is to simply meet demands rather than exceed them.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, the idea of 'coping' often implies a more active struggle against difficulties, whereas 应付 may suggest a more resigned acceptance of challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions about 应付
应付 suggests managing something often with a sense of just getting by, while 处理 implies handling something more effectively and with a proactive approach.
It's generally more informal and may not be suitable for formal writing or professional settings where more precise terms should be used.
Not necessarily, but it often carries a connotation of merely coping rather than thriving, so context matters.
