Word for "Rusty"

[Song You Shen]

So I don't know the word for "rusty" and I was wondering if someone could help me out... I am not talking about literal word for "rust." Rather, I am talking about how something can become rusty without practice. See below.

The sentence I am trying to say is:

我的普通话非常 "rusty".

Thanks.

Youshen

[Quest]

Use 生疏 -> 很久没说普通话，觉得有点儿生疏了。

[tumujerome]

For "rusty" in this case you could use 生疏：

因为平时只说英语，我的普通话非常生疏了。

[(JR)]

the word you are looking for is 荒废 (huang1fei4). it means to fall into disuse/disrepair. I've seen it used in a tv drama in the context you are talking about.

[skylee]

Use 生疏.

[chenpv]

我的普通话非常 "rusty"

Sorry if I am a little carping. I just find it a little weird. '生疏' is an adjective showing a motion if it is used as 'rusty', while '非常' is an adverb to describe a adjective which shows a state. So they dont match IMHO. '生疏' can be used as a static adjective under the meaning of 'unfamiliar'. eg: '我和他之间非常生疏。' but as for 'rusty', maybe '我的普通话都有些生疏了' sounds better, since it evinces the language has rusted.

you can also try this: '好长时间没用汉语了，真该 上点油了/充充电了/加把劲了 etc.'

Hope it helps.

[elina]

我的普通话说得很不熟练。

[dwood92688]

不灵了。不灵光了。

灵: in perfect working condition; responsive

不灵: not quite working;

灵光: well lubricated & polished

不灵光了: rusty

灵 may be considered as a regional dialect, but I believe that it is generally understood.

If your Chinese is not "very rusty", i.e. still semi-workable, you can say 不太灵. If you are totally rusted out, you can say 完全不灵了。 Whatever you say, you are implying that "at one time, it works reasonably well."

[xiaocai]

How about 生涩?