About
The character "嘲" (cháo), meaning to ridicule or mock, derives its core semantic function from its left-side radical "口" (mouth), indicating an action related to speech, while its right-side component "朝" (zhāo/cháo) primarily serves a phonetic purpose, though it may also carry a subtle conceptual link to public or formal settings given its meanings of "morning" and "court assembly". Over its historical usage, the character's meaning has consistently centered on verbal derision, though its application has refined to specifically denote scornful laughter, taunting, or sarcastic speech, often in a contemptuous manner. This sense is reinforced in common compounds like "嘲笑" (to laugh at) and "嘲讽" (to sneer at), where it partners with other characters to specify the nature of the mockery. The structure of the character itself, a clear phonetic-semantic compound, has remained stable, with its traditional and simplified forms being identical, allowing its etymological composition to remain visibly intact.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他在嘲笑我。
不要嘲笑别人。
他经常嘲讽同学。
她嘲笑了我的错误。
如果你嘲笑他，他会伤心。
那个男孩嘲讽地看了我一眼。
尽管被嘲笑了，他仍然坚持自己的观点。
他的嘲讽语气让在场的人都感到不舒服。