打趣 (dǎ qù) — to tease, to make fun of

Definition

A casual verb meaning 'to tease or make fun of someone in a light, playful way'. Distinguish from 开玩笑, which can be a one-off joke; 打趣 is repeated, directed teasing at a person.

verb
to teaseto make fun of

Examples

  • 打趣。
    Dà jiā dōu zài dǎ qù tā.
    Everyone is teasing him.
  • 。
    Tā zǒng xǐ huan dǎ bié rén de qù.
    He always likes to tease others.
  • 打趣。
    Nǐ men bié dǎ qù wǒ le.
    Don't tease me, you guys.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

打dǎdo or make
趣qùfun

The 打 part means to do or make, and 趣 means fun, giving playful teasing.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng打dǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

打 uses 扌, a hand, to show an action done with the hand, and 丁 to give the sound.

Open 打 →

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
走走zǒuwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
取
取qǔ趣qù
Same sound today

趣 has 走, showing walking or hurrying, and 取, which gives the sound; the shape points to moving toward something.

Open 趣 →

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