# 娇生惯养

jiāo shēng guàn yǎng

Be overindulged and spoiled from childhood

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Raised delicately and indulged habitually

**Traditional Chinese:** 嬌生慣養

**Register:** Critical · expressive

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe upbringing that limits resilience or independence.

A comfortable childhood is not necessarily spoiling.

## Understanding the expression

Repeated indulgence can make ordinary discomfort and responsibility feel unfamiliar. The expression describes someone whose upbringing shielded them excessively from effort or limits. It often concerns a child, but adults can retain the resulting habits. Affection and good care are not the problem; the criticism is the absence of appropriate independence and boundaries. A person raised this way can still learn practical skills and resilience rather than being permanently defined by childhood treatment.

## Examples

他从小娇生惯养，不会做饭。

### Traditional Chinese

他從小嬌生慣養，不會做飯。

tā cóng xiǎo jiāo shēng guàn yǎng ， bú huì zuò fàn 。

He was spoiled growing up and cannot cook.

父母爱她，却没有娇生惯养。

### Traditional Chinese

父母愛她，卻沒有嬌生慣養。

fù mǔ ài tā ， què méi yǒu jiāo shēng guàn yǎng 。

Her parents love her without overindulging her.

这孩子娇生惯养，难以接受拒绝。

### Traditional Chinese

這孩子嬌生慣養，難以接受拒絕。

zhè hái zi jiāo shēng guàn yǎng ， nán yǐ jiē shòu jù jué 。

This spoiled child finds it hard to accept a refusal.

离家后，她逐渐改掉娇生惯养的习气。

### Traditional Chinese

離家後，她逐漸改掉嬌生慣養的習氣。

lí jiā hòu ， tā zhú jiàn gǎi diào jiāo shēng guàn yǎng de xí qì 。

After leaving home, she gradually overcame habits from being overindulged.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%AC%8C%E7%94%9F%E6%85%A3%E9%A4%8A)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=921&webMd=1&la=0)

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