Definitions

(coll.) to scold; to rebuke
variant of 齜|龇[zī]

Etymology phono-semantic

mouth

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character is a phono-semantic compound composed of the mouth radical on the left, which places it in the category of facial expressions, vocalizations, or mouth-related actions, and the phonetic component (cǐ) on the right. It primarily denotes baring one's teeth, whether in aggression, pain, or a grimace, and appears in the colloquial expression 呲牙 (cīyá). A secondary, derived meaning is to harshly reprimand or scold, reflecting the bared-teeth snarl that often accompanies angry outbursts.