插科打诨 (chā kē dǎ hùn) — to make jokes or wisecracks; to clown around

Definition

A 成语 for comic performance: inserting funny lines and gestures, often in 戏曲 or crosstalk, to amuse the audience. The tone is lighthearted and theatrical, not ordinary chatting humor.

idiom
to make jokes or wisecracksto clown around

Examples

  • 插科打诨，。
    Tā zài yán sù de huì yì shàng chā kē dǎ hùn, ràng qì fen qīng sōng le bù shǎo.
    He cracked jokes at the serious meeting, which lightened the atmosphere quite a bit.
  • 插科打诨，。
    Zhè wèi xiàng sheng yǎn yuán zuì shàn cháng chā kē dǎ hùn, guān zhòng měi cì dōu xiào dé qián yǎng hòu hé.
    This crosstalk performer is best at clowning around; the audience laughs uncontrollably every time.
  • 插科打诨，。
    Bié zǒng shì chā kē dǎ hùn, gāi rèn zhēn tǎo lùn wèn tí le.
    Stop always making wisecracks; it's time to discuss the issue seriously.

Origin

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 插 →

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
斗斗dòumeasuring tool
Sound part声符shēngfú
禾
禾hé科kē
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

科 pairs 禾, which gives the hé sound, with 斗, a measuring tool.

Open 科 →

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 諢; 诨 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
軍
軍jūn諢hùn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 諢 pairs 言, meaning speech, with 軍, which gives the sound; the simplified 诨 is a later shorthand.

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