Meaning
This phrase describes a person who is difficult to get along with or hard to deal with in social situations. It combines 不好 (not good/difficult) with 相处 (to get along with), literally meaning 'not good to mutually interact with.' The phrase is commonly used to describe people with challenging personalities or difficult temperaments.
Usage
This phrase is typically used when discussing someone's personality or social compatibility, often in informal contexts. It can be used both as a predicate ('他不好相处') and as an attributive ('一个不好相处的人'). The tone is generally mildly negative but not harshly critical, more observational than judgmental.
Examples
- 01他脾气很大，是个不好相处的人。, .He has a bad temper and is a difficult person to get along with.
- 02新来的经理不好相处，同事们都很紧张。, .The new manager is hard to deal with, and all the colleagues are nervous.
Characters
Common collocations
- 很不好相处very difficult to get along with
- 不好相处的人a person who is difficult to get along with
Antonyms
Origin
The phrase builds on 相处, a classical Chinese construction meaning 'to associate with each other,' which uses 相 (mutually) + 处 (to dwell/associate). Adding 不好 creates a common modern phrase for interpersonal difficulties.