TongTong
Sign in

斥责 (chì zé) — to reprimand, to rebuke, to denounce

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to reprimand or denounce sharply', stronger in tone than everyday 批评. Often used in official, media, or public contexts (e.g. 社会各界纷纷斥责).

verb
to reprimandto rebuketo denounce

Examples

  • 斥责，。
    Tā bèi lǎo bǎn dāng zhòng chì zé, jué de hěn diū liǎn.
    He was publicly reprimanded by the boss and felt very embarrassed.
  • 斥责。
    Lǎo shī yán lì dì chì zé le nà xiē bú rèn zhēn zuò zuò yè de xué shēng.
    The teacher severely rebuked those students who didn't do their homework carefully.
  • ，斥责。
    Duì yú zhè zhǒng bú fù zé rèn de xíng wéi, shè huì gè jiè fēn fēn chì zé.
    For this kind of irresponsible behavior, all sectors of society denounced it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

斥chìscold
责zéblame

斥 means scold and 责 means blame, both reinforcing reprimand.

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
广广guǎngbuilding
Sound part声符shēngfú
屰
屰nì斥chì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

An older form paired 广 (building) with 屰 (sound part); 斥 developed from that shape.

Open 斥 →

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 責; 责 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèicowry; money
Sound part声符shēngfú
朿
朿cì責zé
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 責 pairs 貝, cowry/money, with 朿 as the sound part; the simplified 责 is a later shorthand.

Open 责 →
Appears in
Communication & SpeechConflict & Agreement

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