啧

嘖

zé

口 + 责

Definitions

zé (verb) to click one's tongue

zé (particle) (interjection of admiration or disgust)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 责 represents the sound. Simplified form of 嘖.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 责

About

Corresponding to the traditional form 啧, the character 啧 is a phono-semantic compound. The mouth radical 口 on the left indicates an action performed with the mouth, while 责 on the right provides the phonetic component. It represents the onomatopoeic action of clicking the tongue, a sound used to express various strong reactions, from admiration and praise to annoyance, surprise, or pity, depending on context and the compound words in which it appears.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他做的菜让人啧啧称赞。

Tā zuò de cài ràng rén zé zé chēng zàn.

The dish he made makes people click their tongues in praise.

观众们对魔术表演啧啧称奇。

Guānzhòng men duì móshù biǎoyǎn zé zé chēng qí.

The audience clicked their tongues in amazement at the magic show.

看到她浪费食物，他啧啧了两声。

Kàn dào tā làngfèi shíwù, tā zé zé le liǎng shēng.

Seeing her waste food, he clicked his tongue twice.

这部小说的文笔，实在令人啧服。

Zhè bù xiǎoshuō de wénbǐ, shízài lìng rén zé fú.

The writing style of this novel is truly admirable (making one click the tongue in admiration).

对于这个设计缺陷，专家啧有烦言。

Duìyú zhège shèjì quēxiàn, zhuānjiā zé yǒu fán yán.

Regarding this design flaw, experts have critical comments.

他啧了一声，表达自己的不满。

Tā zé le yī shēng, biǎodá zìjǐ de bùmǎn.

He made a "tsk" sound to express his dissatisfaction.

品味这幅画的细节，值得啧啧玩味。

Pǐnwèi zhè fú huà de xìjié, zhíde zé zé wánwèi.

Savoring the details of this painting is worth appreciating thoughtfully.

面对如此复杂的局面，他也只能啧叹一声。

Miàn duì rúcǐ fùzá de júmiàn, tā yě zhǐ néng zé tàn yī shēng.

Faced with such a complicated situation, he could only click his tongue and sigh.

Related Characters

Component: 口

Component: 责

啧