嗤之以鼻 (chī zhī yǐ bí) — (idiom) to snort disdainfully; to express contempt or scorn

Definition

A vivid chengyu meaning to snort at something as beneath contempt — more emphatic and dismissive than just 看不起. Used in writing for an outward show of scorn, not casual dislike.

idiom
to snort disdainfullyto express contempt or scorn

Examples

  • 嗤之以鼻。
    Tā duì zhè ge huāng miù de jiàn yì chī zhī yǐ bí.
    He snorted at this ridiculous suggestion.
  • ，嗤之以鼻。
    Duì yú nà zhǒng fū qiǎn de pī píng, tā zhǐ shì chī zhī yǐ bí.
    He just showed contempt for that kind of shallow criticism.
  • ，嗤之以鼻。
    Miàn duì zhè xiē yáo yán, kē xué jiā men chī zhī yǐ bí.
    Facing these rumors, the scientists scoffed at them.

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
蚩
蚩chī嗤chī
Same sound today

嗤 pairs 口 (mouth) with 蚩, which gives its sound. The 口 part shows the sneer is something done with the mouth.

Open 嗤 →

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

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

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

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

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
自自zìnose
Sound part声符shēngfú
畀
畀bì鼻bí
Same sound today

鼻 pairs 自, meaning nose, with 畀, which gives the sound.

Open 鼻 →

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