反唇相讥 (fǎn chún xiāng jī) — to answer back sarcastically; to retort sharply (in a verbal argument)

Definition

A four-character idiom meaning to fire back a sharp, sarcastic retort in an argument. Stronger and more literary than everyday words like 反驳 or 回嘴, which lack the biting, mocking tone.

verb
to answer back sarcasticallyto retort sharply (in a verbal argument)

Examples

  • ，反唇相讥，。
    Miàn duì duì fāng de pī píng, tā lì kè fǎn chún xiāng jī, sī háo bú ràng.
    Faced with the other side's criticism, he immediately retorted sarcastically, giving no ground.
  • ，反唇相讥，。
    Zài biàn lùn sài zhōng, xuǎn shǒu men jīng cháng fǎn chún xiāng jī, chǎng miàn shí fēn jī liè.
    In debate competitions, contestants often fire back sarcastically, making the scene very intense.
  • ，反唇相讥。
    Tā bèi tóng shì cháo fěng hòu, rěn bú zhù fǎn chún xiāng jī le jǐ jù.
    After being mocked by a colleague, he couldn't help but retort with a few sarcastic remarks.

Origin

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
厂
厂chǎng反fǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

反 uses 又 (hand) for meaning and 厂 for sound. Its original shape showed a hand turning its palm over, giving the sense of return or reverse.

Open 反 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
辰
辰chén唇
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

唇 is built from 口, meaning mouth, and 辰, which points to its sound.

Open 唇 →

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

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

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 譏; 讥 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
幾
幾jī譏jī
Same sound today

The traditional form 譏 pairs 言 (speech) with 幾, which gives the sound; the simplified 讥 is a later shorthand.

Open 讥 →

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