Meaning
生疏 describes a state of being unfamiliar with something or having lost proficiency through lack of practice. It combines 生 (unfamiliar, raw) and 疏 (distant, sparse) to convey the sense that skills, relationships, or knowledge have become distant or weakened due to infrequent use or contact.
Usage
Commonly used to describe skills that have deteriorated from lack of practice, such as language abilities, musical instruments, or technical skills. Also applies to relationships that have grown distant. Often paired with verbs like 变得 (to become) or 感到 (to feel). Native speakers frequently use it when returning to an activity after a long break.
Examples
- 01好久没说中文了，我觉得有点儿生疏。, .I haven't spoken Chinese in a long time, so I feel a bit rusty.
- 02我们多年没联系，关系已经变得很生疏了。, .We haven't been in touch for many years, so our relationship has become quite distant.
Characters
Common collocations
- 变得生疏to become rusty/unfamiliar
- 感到生疏to feel unfamiliar
- 技术生疏skills are rusty
- 关系生疏relationship has grown distant
Antonyms
Origin
The character 生 originally meant raw or uncooked, extending to unfamiliar or strange. 疏 means sparse or distant, suggesting distance or neglect. Together they create the image of something that has become distant and unfamiliar through lack of contact.