The Chinese word **顶嘴 (dǐngzuǐ)**, meaning "to talk back" or "to answer back defiantly," is a verb-object compound formed by combining **顶 (dǐng)**, which literally means "to top" or "to support with the head" but here carries the metaphorical sense of "to oppose" or "to retort," with **嘴 (zuǐ)**, meaning "mouth." Thus, the compound figuratively depicts the act of using one's mouth to push back against or "head-butt" someone's words, vividly conveying the notion of defiant verbal rebuttal, typically from a subordinate (like a child) to a superior (like a parent or teacher). This formation exemplifies how Chinese frequently creates expressive verbs by pairing an action with its direct object.