Definitions
(verb)
laugh; smile
Etymology
Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and 夭 represents the sound.
About
The character "笑", denoting laughter or the act of laughing, is composed of the bamboo radical positioned above the component "夭", a combination that has historically generated debate regarding its etymological foundations. While the bamboo element might suggest a visual analogy to bending plants, scholarly interpretations emphasize that the character likely originated through phonetic associations with terms related to audible expressions or gentle motion, rather than embodying a literal pictorial meaning. Over time, its core semantic function has remained focused on conveying joy or amusement, yet it has also developed extended usages, such as implying mockery or derision in certain linguistic contexts. The character's structure has persisted with only subtle stylistic adjustments, maintaining its integral components without significant alteration across centuries of written use.
Example Sentences Hide
我笑得很开心。
孩子们笑声不断。
她微笑着打招呼。
这个故事真可笑。
他讲笑话逗我们笑。
他的表演让全场大笑。
面对困难，他苦笑了一下。
她的笑容温暖了我的心。