Definitions

shàn to mock; to ridicule; to slander

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "讪" originates from its traditional form "訕", which is composed of the speech radical "言" and the component "山", with the latter likely serving as a phonetic element while the radical denotes its association with verbal expression. Initially, the character carried connotations of mocking or ridicule, as well as expressing embarrassment or shame, but over centuries its meaning has shifted to predominantly indicate slander, defamation, or derisive speech. The simplified form "讪" retains the component "山" while replacing the traditional radical "言" with its simplified variant "讠", thus maintaining the character's essential structure and its evolved semantic focus on negative verbal actions.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他试图跟陌生人搭

Tā shìtú gēn mòshēngrén dāshàn.

He tried to strike up a conversation with a stranger.

笑他的笨拙。

Tā shànxiào tā de bènzhuō.

She sneered at his clumsiness.

不要笑别人的失败。

Bùyào shànxiào biérén de shībài.

Do not mock others' failures.

地离开了房间。

Tā shànshàn de líkāi le fángjiān.

He left the room awkwardly.

面对批评,他只能笑回应。

Miàn duì pīpíng, tā zhǐ néng shànxiào huíyìng.

Facing criticism, he could only respond with a sneer.

她搭的技巧非常高明。

Tā dāshàn de jìqiǎo fēicháng gāomíng.

Her skill in striking up conversations is very clever.

他因为笑同学而受到惩罚。

Tā yīnwèi shànxiào tóngxué ér shòudào chéngfá.

He was punished for mocking his classmates.

在公共场合笑他人是不礼貌的行为。

Zài gōnggòng chǎnghé shànxiào tārén shì bù lǐmào de xíngwéi.

Sneering at others in public is impolite behavior.