讽刺 (fěng cì) — to satirize, to mock (using irony or ridicule t…

Definition

讽刺 is a more literary, often written-register word for using irony or ridicule to criticize something (injustice, society, behavior). Stronger and more pointed than the playful 调侃 or the casual 嘲笑 — it implies a critical edge, not just teasing.

verb

to satirizeto mock (using irony or ridicule to criticize)

Examples

讽刺。
Zhè piān màn huà fěng cì le shè huì shàng de bù gōng píng xiàn xiàng.
This cartoon satirizes the unfair phenomena in society.
讽刺，。
Tā shuō huà zǒng shì dài diǎn fěng cì, ràng rén tīng le bú tài shū fu.
He always speaks with a bit of mockery, making people feel uncomfortable.
讽刺，。
Bié fěng cì wǒ le, wǒ zhī dào zì jǐ zuò dé bú gòu hǎo.
Don't mock me — I know I didn't do well enough.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

讽fěngsatirize

刺cìprick

讽 and 刺 both suggest criticizing or stinging with words.

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 諷; 讽 is its simplified writing.

言風諷

Meaning part形符xíngfú

言言yán

Sound part声符shēngfú

風

風fēng諷fěng

Same sound today

The traditional form 諷 uses 言 (speech) for the meaning and 風 for the sound. The simplified 讽 is a shorthand, so its right side is not the old sound part.

Open 讽 →

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

朿刂刺

Meaning part形符xíngfú

刂Written in full as刀dāoknife

Sound part声符shēngfú

朿

朿cì刺cì

Same sound today

刺 pairs 刂 (knife) with 朿, which gives the sound; the knife part fits actions like stabbing or pricking.

Open 刺 →

Appears in