TongTong
Sign in

丑话 (chǒu huà) — blunt words; frank warning (often said in advance); harsh or vulgar language

Definition

Set phrase meaning 'blunt / harsh words said in advance' — usually a frank warning or unpleasant truth spoken up front (often paired with 说在前头). Less about profanity than about saying something direct the listener may not want to hear.

noun
blunt wordsfrank warning (often said in advance)harsh or vulgar language
Measure word · 句

Examples

  • 丑话，。
    chǒu huà Shuō zài qián tou, wǒ bú huì chéng dān zhè ge zé rèn.
    To say the blunt words first, I will not take this responsibility.
  • 丑话，。
    Tā men zhī jiān shuō le hěn duō chǒu huà, guān xì biàn de hěn jǐn zhāng.
    They exchanged many harsh words, and the relationship became very tense.
  • ，丑话，。
    Kāi huì qián, lǎo bǎn xiān shuō le jǐ jù chǒu huà, tí xǐng dà jiā zhù yì jìn dù.
    Before the meeting, the boss first said some blunt words to remind everyone to pay attention to the schedule.

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.

丑chǒuugly
话huàwords

丑话 joins 丑 ('ugly/blunt') with 话 ('words'), meaning harsh or frank remarks.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 醜; 丑 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 丑 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words it is 醜; in others (丑) it is 丑.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
鬼鬼guǐghost, demon
Sound part声符shēngfú
酉
酉yǒu醜chǒu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 醜 uses 鬼, a ghost or demon, to show ugliness and 酉 for sound; that shape is about 醜, not about 丑.

Open 丑 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 話; 话 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánword
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠯑
𠯑𠯑話huà
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 話, 言 relates to words and 𠯑 gives the sound; the simplified 话 is a shorthand, so its right side is not that sound part.

Open 话 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.