麻烦

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Character Breakdown

Usage of 麻烦 (má fan)

麻烦 is a versatile word commonly used to express 'trouble' or 'inconvenience.' It can describe situations that are complicated or bothersome, as well as politely request help or favor, often softening the request by acknowledging the inconvenience caused.

Common contexts

  • When asking someone for help, 麻烦 is used to show politeness and awareness of the imposition.
  • It can describe a troublesome situation or task that requires effort or causes annoyance.
  • Often appears in polite requests like "麻烦..." meaning "Could you please..."

Collocations and patterns

  • 麻烦 + verb phrase: polite way to ask someone to do something.
  • 麻烦: describes something very troublesome or complicated.
  • 麻烦: indicates something is not troublesome or inconvenient.

Nuance and register

Using 麻烦 in requests makes the speaker sound considerate and polite, which is important in formal or semi-formal contexts. It is less direct than commands and helps maintain good social relations.

Common confusion

麻烦 is sometimes confused with 麻烦 (troublesome matter) or 煩惱 (worry), but 麻烦 focuses more on inconvenience or causing trouble rather than emotional distress.

Example Sentences

Sorry to trouble you, could you help me hold that bag?

This matter is troublesome; we need to handle it carefully.

Please come to the meeting earlier, okay?