Definitions

cháo (verb) to ridicule; to mock
zhāo (noun) sound of birds chirping

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 嘲, structured with the mouth radical 口 and the component 朝, originates from the concept of verbal ridicule, with the mouth radical denoting speech and 朝 contributing phonetically. Historically, it was used in classical writings to express mocking or scornful language, and its meaning has remained focused on derision, evolving to include lighter forms of jesting while maintaining its core sense of mockery in compounds such as 嘲笑 and 嘲讽.

Etymology Hide

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

Example Sentences Hide

他在笑我。

Tā zài cháoxiào wǒ.

He is laughing at me.

不要笑别人。

Bùyào cháoxiào biérén.

Do not laugh at others.

他经常讽同学。

Tā jīngcháng cháofěng tóngxué.

He often mocks his classmates.

笑了我的错误。

Tā cháoxiào le wǒ de cuòwù.

She laughed at my mistake.

如果你笑他,他会伤心。

Rúguǒ nǐ cháoxiào tā, tā huì shāngxīn.

If you laugh at him, he will be sad.

那个男孩讽地看了我一眼。

Nàgè nánhái cháofěng de kànle wǒ yì yǎn.

That boy looked at me with a sneer.

尽管被笑了,他仍然坚持自己的观点。

Jǐnguǎn bèi cháoxiào le, tā réngrán jiānchí zìjǐ de guāndiǎn.

Although he was laughed at, he still persisted in his own viewpoint.

他的讽语气让在场的人都感到不舒服。

Tā de cháofěng yǔqì ràng zàichǎng de rén dōu gǎndào bù shūfu.

His sarcastic tone made everyone present feel uncomfortable.