TongTong
Sign in

气话 (qì huà) — words spoken in anger; angry remarks (often said and later regretted)

Definition

Words blurted out in anger that the speaker usually doesn't mean — typically regretted later. Use when reassuring someone that harsh words were just said in the heat of the moment.

noun
words spoken in angerangry remarks (often said and later regretted)
Measure word · 句

Examples

  • 气话，。
    Tā shuō de dōu shì qì huà, nǐ bié dàng zhēn.
    What he said was just angry words — don't take it seriously.
  • 气话，。
    Wǒ zhī dào nà shì qì huà, suǒ yǐ méi fàng zài xīn shàng.
    I knew those were angry words, so I didn't take them to heart.
  • 气话，。
    Fū qī chǎo jià shí shuō de qì huà, guò hòu cháng cháng huì hòu huǐ.
    The angry words said during a couple's quarrel are often regretted afterward.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

气qìanger
话huàwords

气 (anger) specifies the kind of 话 (words), giving remarks made in anger.

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →

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 話; 话 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánword
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠯑
𠯑𠯑話huà
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 話, 言 relates to words and 𠯑 gives the sound; the simplified 话 is a shorthand, so its right side is not that sound part.

Open 话 →
Appears in
Communication & SpeechEmotions & Feelings

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