Meaning
挑剔 describes someone who is very particular, critical, or hard to please, often focusing on minor flaws or details. It suggests an excessive attention to standards or an overly critical attitude. The word can describe both a personality trait and a specific behavior of finding fault.
Usage
挑剔 typically carries a mildly negative connotation, suggesting someone is overly critical or difficult to satisfy. It's commonly used to describe people's attitudes toward food, work quality, appearance, or relationships. Often appears in the pattern '对...挑剔' (picky about...) or '很挑剔' (very picky).
Examples
- 01他对食物很挑剔，餐厅很难选。, .He's very picky about food, so it's hard to choose a restaurant.
- 02我妈妈对我的穿着总是很挑剔。.My mom is always very picky about how I dress.
Characters
Common collocations
- 对...挑剔...to be picky about...
- 挑剔的人a picky person
- 很挑剔very picky
- 过于挑剔overly picky
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to the act of picking or selecting carefully. 挑 means to choose or pick, while 剔 means to pick out or remove unwanted parts. Together they emphasize the act of scrutinizing and finding faults.