戏言 (xì yán) — joke; witticism; jest

Definition

Literary/formal term for a playful or careless remark meant as a joke — stronger and more written than 玩笑 (yán wán). Often used to contrast with serious intent ("just a jest").

noun
jokewitticismjest

Examples

  • 戏言，。
    Tā ài shuō xì yán, dà jiā jīng cháng bèi tā dòu xiào.
    He likes to tell jokes; everyone often gets amused by him.
  • 戏言，。
    Bié bǎ wǒ de huà dāng xì yán, wǒ shì rèn zhēn de.
    Don't take my words as a joke; I'm serious.
  • 戏言，。
    Nà zhǐ shì yí jù xì yán, nǐ bié dàng zhēn.
    That was just a jest; don't take it seriously.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

戏xìplayful
言yánwords

戏 gives playful or joking, and 言 gives words, so the whole means joking words.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 戲; 戏 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
戈戈gēhalberd
Sound part声符shēngfú
䖒
䖒䖒戲xì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 戲, the shape combines 戈 (halberd) with 䖒, which gives the sound; the word originally meant an army's wing or flank. The simplified 戏 is a later shorthand, not the form described here.

Open 戏 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The early form of 言 shows an opening and a mark indicating a location; the location is not described as the source of speech.

Open 言 →

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