▎慣, guàn, (Ptc), indicating ‘getting used to a routine’

 

Function The verb particle 慣 can be used in various ways and meanings. V 慣 and V 得慣 refer to routine activities that one is used to and feels comfortable with. They are used with plain, neutral statements, e.g.,

1 我從小吃慣了媽媽做的菜，所以吃不慣阿姨做的菜。

Wǒ cóng xiǎo chīguàn le māma zuò de cài, suǒyǐ chībúguàn āyí zuò de cài.

I’ve had mom’s cooking since I was little, so I haven’t been able to get used to that of my auntie.

2 他在台灣很多年了，已經用慣了筷子了。

Tā zài Táiwān hěn duō nián le, yǐjīng yòngguàn le kuàizi le.

He’s been in Taiwan many years, so he’s already used to chopsticks.

3 爺爺他不喝咖啡。他只喝得慣綠茶。

Yéye tā bù hē kāfēi. Tā zhǐ hēdeguàn lǜchá.

Grandpa doesn’t take coffee. He is only accustomed to drinking green tea.

4 何先生每天騎腳踏車上班。他騎慣了，所以不覺得累。

Hé xiānshēng měi tiān qí jiǎotàchē shàngbān. Tā qíguàn le, suǒyǐ bù juéde lèi.

Mr. He rides his bike to work every day. He’s gotton used to it, so it doesn’t make him tired.

5 他聽慣了古典音樂，聽不慣流行音樂。

Tā tīngguàn le gǔdiǎn yīnyuè, tīngbúguàn liúxíng yīnyuè.

He’s used to listening to classical music, and not pop music.

On the other hand, V 不慣, often carries negative overtones, e.g.,

1 林先生愛喝烏龍茶。他喝不慣冰紅茶。

Lín xiānshēng ài hē Wūlóng chá. Tā hēbúguàn bīng hóngchá.

Mr. Lin loves Oolong tea, but he hasn’t acquired a liking for iced black tea.

2 奶奶喜歡住在鄉下老家。她住不慣大城市。

Nǎinai xǐhuān zhù zài xiāngxià lǎojiā. Tā zhùbúguàn dà chéngshì.

Grandma likes living at her home in the country. She is unaccustomed to living in the big city.

3 那種款式的衣服太短了。媽媽說她年紀大了穿不慣。

Nà zhǒng kuǎnshì de yīfú tài duǎn le. Māma shuō tā niánjì dà le chuānbúguàn.

That style of clothing is too short. Mom’s not suited to it in her age.

4 有些民意代表只關心自己或是政黨的利益。人民真看不慣。

Yǒuxiē mínyì dàibiǎo zhǐ guānxīn zìjǐ huò shì zhèngdǎng de lìyì. Rénmín zhēn kànbúguàn.

Some public representatives are only concerned with personal or party benefit. The people can’t stand it.

5 王教授一直在大學教書。他教不慣小學生。

Wáng jiàoshòu yìzhí zài dàxué jiāoshū. Tā jiāobúguàn xiǎoxuéshēng.

Professor Wang has always taught at university. He wouldn’t know what to do with elementary school students.