无病呻吟
wú bìng shēn yín
to moan when nothing is wrong; to put on a show of sorrow
Character by character
无wú
without
without
病bìng
illness
illness
呻shēn
groan
groan
吟yín
moan
moan
Example
这首诗满是“孤独”“眼泪”，却看不出真感情，有点无病呻吟。
This poem is full of “loneliness” and “tears” but shows no real feeling; it is rather affected.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
Said of people who sigh and complain about troubles they do not really have, and of writing that strikes sorrowful poses without real feeling. Saying it of someone who really is ill is exactly the prejudice this lesson argues against.
Learn this in Lesson 162 · HSK 7–9: 抑郁症不是矫情 (Depression is not oversensitivity)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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