Chinese phrases
How to say bored in Chinese
Bored in Chinese is 无聊 (wú liáo). The same word means “bored” and “boring”: 我好无聊 is “I’m so bored,” and 这部电影很无聊 is “this film is boring.”
无聊
bored; boring
Ways to say bored
无聊
Everydaybored; boring
For you, a film, a class or a weekend with nothing in it. 我很无聊 is “I’m bored.”
好无聊
With friendsso bored
The usual complaint: a long queue, a rainy Sunday, a slow day at work. Also 无聊死了.
没意思
Everydayno fun; dull
For an activity, a game or a film you do not enjoy: 这个游戏没意思, “this game is no fun.”
闲
Everydayidle; with nothing to do
You have free time, which is not always bad: 我最近很闲. When it turns into boredom, people say 闲得无聊.
闷
With friendsbored and low
Bored in a heavy way, stuck in one place: 在家待了一天，好闷.
Common mistakes
无聊 about a person
无聊 about what someone does often means silly or childish, not dull. After a prank, 你好无聊啊 means “that’s so childish.”
烦 for bored
烦 (fán) means annoyed or fed up. 我很烦 says something is bothering you. If you have nothing to do, say 我好无聊.
没意思 to someone’s face
About a friend’s plan or gift, 没意思 sounds blunt: “this is no fun.” Say what you would prefer instead.
A rainy Sunday
好无聊啊。
Qiqi: I’m so bored.
怎么了？
Leon: What’s up?
下雨了，哪里都去不了。
Qiqi: It’s raining. I can’t go anywhere.
那我们去看电影吧。
Leon: Then let’s go to the cinema.
好啊！
Qiqi: OK!
