玩笑 (wán xiào) — joke, jest | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

玩笑 (wánxiào) is the noun for 'a joke' — a spoken or written jest, often paired with 开 (开玩笑). It's more colloquial than the formal 笑话.

noun

jokejest

Measure word · 个

玩笑。
Tā kāi le yí gè wán xiào.
He made a joke.
。
Bié ná zhè jiàn shì kāi wán xiào.
Don't joke about this matter.
，玩笑。
Bié shēng qì, zhè zhǐ shì gè wán xiào.
Don't be angry, this is just a joke.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

玩 refers to playing and 笑 to laughing; together they name playful jesting.

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

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

元

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

玩 pairs 玉 (jade) with 元 (yuán) for sound. The jade part points to toys made of jade.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

艸

艸cǎo笑xiào

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

An early 笑 used the grass 艸 for the sound and the dog 犬 for the meaning; later it was written with 竹 and 夭.

Appears in