苟 (gǒu) - careless & negligent

苟Tone 3

gǒu ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 艹

枫惠

苟 · gǒu

careless;

negligent;

if;

supposing;

temporary;

surname Gou

carelessnegligentif

Usage highlights

carelesstemporary easelive onsurname Gouifnegligent

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 认真— serious, conscientious
  • 严谨— rigorous, meticulous

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Don't be careless in your work (工作不能苟且).
  • If I have time, I will go (苟有时间，我就去).
  • He temporarily stayed there (他苟安在那里).
  • Mr. Gou is our teacher (苟先生是我们的老师).

Collocations

  • careless(苟且)
  • temporary ease(苟安)
  • live on(苟活)
  • surname Gou(苟姓)
  • if(苟如)
  • negligent(苟简)

Idioms

  • Barely managing to keep body and soul together(苟延残喘)
  • Living a makeshift existence(苟且偷生)
  • Careless and perfunctory(苟且了事)
  • Seeking only temporary ease(苟安一时)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • As a surname, Gou is relatively rare but has historical roots in China.
  • In classical Chinese philosophy, the character often appears in conditional statements and warnings against careless behavior.
  • The idiom 苟延残喘 vividly describes a desperate situation where one barely manages to survive.

FAQ