About
The character "耍" is structurally composed of "而" positioned above "女", with its earliest recorded meanings relating to play or amusement. Etymologically, the component "女" may suggest an association with leisure activities, while "而" functions phonetically to indicate pronunciation. From this foundational sense, the meaning of "耍" expanded to encompass skilled manipulation, such as in performances like "耍刀" for swordplay, and further developed connotations of teasing or deceit, as seen in expressions like "耍花招" for playing tricks or "耍赖" for acting unreasonably. This progression reflects a semantic broadening from physical play to include abstract behaviors of manipulation and whimsical conduct.
Example Sentences Hide
孩子们在公园玩耍。
他喜欢耍小聪明。
你别想耍花招。
他在舞台上耍刀。
那个魔术师耍了一套戏法。
他经常耍赖，不承认错误。
政治家在演讲中耍手段。
他为了达到目的，不惜耍阴谋诡计。