又哭又闹 (yòu kū yòu nào) — to cry and make a fuss, to throw a tantrum

Definition

A fixed pattern describing someone (usually a child) both crying and making a fuss at the same time — essentially 'to throw a tantrum'. Use it as a verb phrase; don't break it apart or insert other words between 又 and 哭/闹.

verb
to cry and make a fussto throw a tantrum

Examples

  • 又哭又闹，。
    Nà ge xiǎo hái zài shāng diàn lǐ yòu kū yòu nào, mā ma hěn gān gà.
    That child was crying and making a fuss in the store, and the mother was very embarrassed.
  • 又哭又闹，。
    Tā yīn wèi méi mǎi dào wán jù jiù yòu kū yòu nào, bà ba zhǐ hǎo hǒng tā.
    Because he didn't get the toy, he threw a tantrum, and his father had to coax him.
  • 又哭又闹，。
    Bié yòu kū yòu nào le, yǒu huà hǎo hǎo shuō.
    Stop crying and making a fuss; if you have something to say, say it nicely.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

The shape 又 originally drew a right hand.

Open 又 →

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
吅吅xuānto speak loudly
Sound part声符shēngfú
獄
獄yù哭kū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Early 哭 showed 吅, loudly, above a long-haired person; that lower part later became dog-like shapes. Later, 哭 was analyzed as 吅 plus 獄 for sound.

Open 哭 →

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

The shape 又 originally drew a right hand.

Open 又 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鬧; 闹 is its simplified writing.

  • 鬥鬥dòuto fight
  • 市市shìmarket; town

The traditional form 鬧 combines 鬥 (to fight) and 市 (market; town) to mean noisy.

Open 闹 →

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