Meaning and Usage
"调皮" (tiáopí) describes someone, often a child or animal, who is playful in a mischievous or naughty way. It implies light-hearted troublemaking rather than serious misbehavior.
Common Contexts
It is frequently used to describe children who tease others or do small pranks, as well as pets that behave playfully but cause minor trouble.
Collocations and Patterns
- 调皮的孩子: naughty child, a very common phrase to describe playful kids.
- 调皮捣蛋: to be mischievous and cause trouble, often used in storytelling or casual speech.
- 别调皮: a mild reprimand meaning "don't be naughty" or "stop fooling around."
Nuances
Using 调皮 is generally affectionate or mildly admonishing, not harsh. It contrasts with words like 淘气 (táoqì), which can be similar but sometimes implies more unruliness. 调皮 often carries a tone of endearment or humor.
Common Confusion
Don't confuse 调皮 with 坏 (bad) or 恶劣 (mean/evil). 调皮 is about playful mischief, not serious bad behavior.