About
The character 呲 is a phono-semantic compound. Its left-side radical 口 (mouth) places it within the category of mouth-related actions or expressions, while the right component 此 (cǐ) provides the phonetic element. The primary meaning is the physical act of baring the teeth, often to show aggression, pain, or a grimace, as seen in the common phrase "呲牙" (cīyā). It also carries a secondary verbal sense of harshly reprimanding or scolding someone, a meaning derived from the fierce facial expression of bared teeth that typically accompanies such anger.