话柄 (huà bǐng) — something that gives others a handle to criticize or mock you; a subject for gossip or ridicule

Definition

A 话柄 (huàbǐng) is a 'handle' — something you've said or done that others use to mock or criticize you. Often appears with 留下 or 落 (leave behind).

noun
something that gives others a handle to criticize or mock youa subject for gossip or ridicule

Examples

  • 。
    Bié bǎ zì jǐ de yǐn sī biàn chéng bié rén de huà bǐng.
    Don't turn your privacy into a handle for others.
  • 。
    Tā shuō de nà jù huà chéng le dà jiā de huà bǐng.
    That sentence he said became a subject of ridicule for everyone.
  • ，话柄。
    Zuò shì xiǎo xīn yì diǎn, bú yào liú xià huà bǐng.
    Be careful in your actions; don't leave a pretext for attack.

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.

话huàwords
柄bǐnghandle

A handle in what someone says, with 话 meaning 'words' and 柄 meaning 'handle'.

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 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 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
丙
丙bǐng柄bǐng
Same sound today

柄 shows a wooden handle: it combines 木 (wood) with 丙 for its sound.

Open 柄 →

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