怄气 (òu qì) — to sulk (in a huff, silently); to squabble (over trivial matters)

Definition

怄气 (òu qì) is a colloquial verb meaning to sulk in a quiet huff or to squabble over trivial matters — a petty, everyday word stronger than just 'being upset'. Often used with 了 or 整天 to mark the duration of the mood.

verb
to sulk (in a huff, silently)to squabble (over trivial matters)

Examples

  • 怄气，。
    Bié gēn wǒ òu qì le, wǒ zhī dào cuò le.
    Don't sulk at me — I know I was wrong.
  • 怄气，。
    Tā yīn wèi yì diǎn xiǎo shì jiù òu qì, zhěng tiān bù shuō huà.
    He sulked over a small matter and didn't speak all day.
  • 怄气，。
    Liǎng gè rén wéi shuí xǐ wǎn òu qì, chǎo le shí fēn zhōng.
    The two squabbled over who would wash the dishes and argued for ten minutes.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

怄òube angry
气qìanger

怄 conveys the angry impulse, and 气 names the anger being held.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →

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