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不齿 (bù chǐ) — to despise, to hold in contempt (formal/literary)

Definition

Formal written expression meaning 'to despise' — emphasizes moral disgust at someone's behavior, stronger and more literary than everyday 讨厌. Used in writing, not casual speech.

verb
to despiseto hold in contempt (formal/literary)

Examples

  • 不齿。
    Zhè zhǒng qī piàn xíng wéi wèi zhèng zhí de rén suǒ bù chǐ.
    This kind of deceitful behavior is despised by upright people.
  • 不齿。
    Tā de suǒ zuò suǒ wéi lìng rén bù chǐ.
    His actions are contemptible.
  • 不齿。
    Xué shù jiè duì chāo xí xíng wéi bù chǐ zhì jí.
    The academic community holds plagiarism in utter contempt.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

不bùnot
齿chǐmention

'不' denies '齿', here meaning to mention, so something is too contemptible to mention.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 齒; 齿 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 齒 originally drew a mouth full of teeth, and later gained a part that gives a clue to its sound. The simplified 齿 is a later shorthand.

Open 齿 →
Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

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