TongTong
Sign in

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liánhéCoordinate

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

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.