Meanings of 揶
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About 揶
Podcast: 揶
Podcast: 揶
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AI study notes for 揶
揶 (yé) vs 嘲 (cháo) — use 揶 for light-hearted teasing, while 嘲 implies a more scornful or mocking tone.
When using 揶, be careful about the tone; it can be playful or sarcastic, depending on context. It is more commonly used in informal settings rather than formal speech. A common collocation is 揶揄 (yéyú), which specifically means to tease or ridicule.
Although 揶 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, it shares roots with other characters related to gestures and communication, like 握 (wò, to grasp) or 拍 (pāi, to pat). Students should focus on recognizing the character in context and understanding its playful connotation.
Learners often confuse 揶 with more serious terms for ridicule, like 嘲笑 (cháoxiào). For instance, saying 揶 when referring to a serious criticism is incorrect; use 嘲笑 instead to convey a harsher tone.
Pronunciation of 揶
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 揶
Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 耶 represents the sound.
hand
Origin
揶 = 扌 + 耶. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 揶
Parts
Which of these is part of 揶?
How to say to ridicule, to poke fun at in Chinese
“to ridicule, to poke fun at” in Chinese is揶
The character 揶 (yé) primarily means to ridicule or poke fun at someone. It is often used in contexts where someone is teasing, jesting, or making light of a situation, usually in a playful manner. The nuance can suggest a light-hearted mockery rather than harsh criticism.
When to use 揶
When using 揶, be careful about the tone; it can be playful or sarcastic, depending on context. It is more commonly used in informal settings rather than formal speech. A common collocation is 揶揄 (yéyú), which specifically means to tease or ridicule.
揶 or something close to it
揶 (yé) vs 嘲 (cháo) — use 揶 for light-hearted teasing, while 嘲 implies a more scornful or mocking tone.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 揶 with more serious terms for ridicule, like 嘲笑 (cháoxiào). For instance, saying 揶 when referring to a serious criticism is incorrect; use 嘲笑 instead to convey a harsher tone.
Write 揶
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Practice writing 揶 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 揶
揶 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Fill the gap
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“你一定是在等哪位小伙子吧，”她____揄道。
"You must be expecting a young man," she teased.
Example sentences for 揶 (2)
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Word Family of 揶
Words with 揶
What does 揶揄 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 揶
No, 揶 is typically used in informal contexts and is not appropriate for formal writing.
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