哧 (chī) — (onomatopoeia) sound of tearing cloth or a quick, sharp hiss; (onomatopoeia) sound of a suppressed laugh, a snicker

Definition

Onomatopoeia for short, sharp sounds: tearing cloth, a snicker, or a match fizzing out. Always paired with 的 in usage, as in 哧的一声.

onomatopoeia
sound of tearing cloth or a quick, sharp hisssound of a suppressed laugha snicker
Easily confused

Examples

  • 哧，。
    Zhī tīng jiàn chī de yī shēng, tā de xiù zi bèi sī pò le.
    He heard a rip as his sleeve was torn.
  • 哧。
    Tā rěn bú zhù chī dì xiào le yī shēng.
    She couldn't help letting out a snicker.
  • 哧。
    Huǒ chái chī de yī shēng jiù miè le.
    The match went out with a fizz.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
赤
赤chì哧chī
Same sound today

哧 is made from 口 (mouth) and 赤, with 赤 giving the sound.

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