Definition
呛 (qiàng) has two distinct meanings. The first is physical: smoke, fumes, or strong smells that irritate the nose and cause choking (different from 嗅 (xiù), which simply means to sniff). The second is a colloquial usage in Taiwan meaning to shout at or scold someone (similar to 骂 (mà), but less strong and regionally marked).
verb
to irritate the noseto choke (of smoke, fumes, or strong smell)(colloquial, Taiwan) to shout at someoneto scold
Easily confused
- 枪qiānglook-alikegun, firearm, rifle
- 强qiángsound-alikestrong, powerful (physically, in ability, or intensity)
- 抢qiǎnglook-aliketo grab, to snatch (physically)
- 墙qiángsound-alikewall
- 创chuànglook-aliketo create; to found
- 腔qiāngsound-alikecavity; chamber (of the body or an object)
- 舱cānglook-alike(noun) cabin (passenger compartment on a ship or airplane)
Examples
- 呛。Zhège fángjiān de yóuqī wèi zhēn qiàng rén.The paint smell in this room really irritates the nose.
- 呛。Tā bèi nóng yān qiàng dào le.He was choked by thick smoke.
- 呛。Tā māma qiàng le tā jǐ jù.His mother scolded him a few words.
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