戏谑 (xì xuè) — to banter; to tease; to ridicule (often in a playful or sarcastic tone)

Definition

A literary verb for playful teasing or witty banter, often with a mocking or sarcastic edge. More formal and stylized than 开玩笑, and not just simple joking — it implies wit with a hint of ridicule.

verb
to banterto teaseto ridicule (often in a playful or sarcastic tone)

Examples

  • 戏谑。
    Tā xǐ huan yòng yōu mò de yǔ qì xì xuè tóng shì.
    He likes to banter with his colleagues in a humorous tone.
  • 戏谑。
    Zhè zhǒng xì xuè de yán cí ràng rén tīng le hěn bù shū fu.
    This kind of teasing remark makes people feel very uncomfortable.
  • 戏谑。
    Péng you zhī jiān ǒu ěr xì xuè yí xià wú shāng dà yǎ.
    A little banter between friends now and then is harmless.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

戏xìplay; tease
谑xuèjoke; ridicule

戏 and 谑 both carry joking or teasing, together giving banter or ridicule.

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 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Appears in
Communication & Speech

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