<p>According to <a href="http://www.iciba.com/negative" rel="nofollow">iCIBA</a>:</p>

<p>If someone is a negative person, or has a negative attitude, then they are <code>消极 (xiāo jí)</code>, or  <code>悲观 (bēi guān)</code>.</p>

<p>To say that a word has a negative connotation, you use <code>负面含义 (fùmiàn hányì)</code>, literally, "downside meaning".</p>

<p>Thanks to S.Rhee for pointing me to iCIBA, where I was able to find the answer to my own question.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-04T21:39:32.690Z
2015-03-04T21:39:32.690Z
Egghead99
<p>Consider: <strong>贬义词</strong>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>derogatory term; pejorative -(ABC)</p>
</blockquote>

<p><br></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>derogatory term; expression of censure -(A Chinese English Dictionaty)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>两岸 lists a defintion with some examples of these 贬义词:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>帶有否定、厭惡等感情色彩的詞（與「褒義詞」相對）。如「昏庸」、「卑鄙」、「討厭」等。也作「貶詞」。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>and an example of usage:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>‘爱情’二字在他的特别词典里是个贬义词, 跟‘贪污’、‘盗窃’、‘资本主义’等词语一样的难听。 -(周克芹 《许茂和他的女儿们》第四章)</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-04T22:12:05.927Z
2015-03-04T22:12:05.927Z
Mou某
<p>I'm trying to explain to a Chinese penpal that certain word and phrases in English carry a negative connotation and so shouldn't be used in specific situations.</p>

<p>I want to say "that phrase is very negative" (as in lacking in optimism or positivity). Google translate gives the word <code>negative</code> as <code>消极</code>, but looking 消极 up in a Chinese to English dictionary tells me it means "passive", which isn't at all what I'm going for.</p>

<p>What's the right word to use?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-04T21:20:49.977Z
has user looked up iciba? at entry for "negative" users can find sample sentences with the required meaning
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-04T21:25:43.993Z
@S.Rhee Nope, I hadn't heard of that site until you just mentioned it. Looks like a great resource. Thanks!
Egghead99
<vocabulary><usage>
How do I say that something is "negative"?
# How do I say that something is "negative"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-03-04)

I'm trying to explain to a Chinese penpal that certain word and phrases in English carry a negative connotation and so shouldn't be used in specific situations.

I want to say "that phrase is very negative" (as in lacking in optimism or positivity). Google translate gives the word `negative` as `消极`, but looking 消极 up in a Chinese to English dictionary tells me it means "passive", which isn't at all what I'm going for.

What's the right word to use?

**Tags:** vocabulary, usage

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: has user looked up iciba? at entry for "negative" users can find sample sentences with the required meaning  
> **username_0**: @S.Rhee Nope, I hadn't heard of that site until you just mentioned it. Looks like a great resource. Thanks!  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2015-03-04. Score: 3

According to [iCIBA](http://www.iciba.com/negative):

If someone is a negative person, or has a negative attitude, then they are `消极 (xiāo jí)`, or `悲观 (bēi guān)`.

To say that a word has a negative connotation, you use `负面含义 (fùmiàn hányì)`, literally, "downside meaning".

Thanks to S.Rhee for pointing me to iCIBA, where I was able to find the answer to my own question.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2015-03-04. Score: 3

Consider: **贬义词**:

> derogatory term; pejorative -(ABC)

> derogatory term; expression of censure -(A Chinese English Dictionaty)

两岸 lists a defintion with some examples of these 贬义词:

> 帶有否定、厭惡等感情色彩的詞（與「褒義詞」相對）。如「昏庸」、「卑鄙」、「討厭」等。也作「貶詞」。

and an example of usage:

> ‘爱情’二字在他的特别词典里是个贬义词, 跟‘贪污’、‘盗窃’、‘资本主义’等词语一样的难听。 -(周克芹 《许茂和他的女儿们》第四章)


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