Meaning
猥琐 describes someone or something with a sleazy, creepy, or morally questionable quality. It often refers to people whose appearance, behavior, or demeanor seems shifty, perverted, or inappropriately sexual. The term carries strong negative connotations and suggests both physical wretchedness and moral depravity.
Usage
This is a strongly negative term commonly used in informal speech to describe someone who looks or acts creepy, especially in a sexual or lecherous way. It can describe physical appearance (a shifty, hunched posture) or behavior (leering, making inappropriate advances). The term is colloquial and should be used carefully as it's quite insulting. Young people frequently use it online to criticize creepy behavior.
Examples
- 01那个男人看起来很猥琐，你最好离他远点。, .That man looks really creepy, you'd better stay away from him.
- 02他总是用猥琐的眼神盯着女同事看。.He always stares at his female colleagues with a leering gaze.
Characters
Common collocations
- 猥琐男creepy guy
- 行为猥琐sleazy behavior
- 长相猥琐looks shifty/creepy
- 猥琐发育develop stealthily (gaming slang)
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters have classical origins. 猥 originally meant 'disorderly' or 'vulgar' while 琐 meant 'small' or 'petty.' Together they evolved to describe someone of base character with a wretched demeanor.