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讽刺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
讽刺
fěngcì
to satirize
HSK 7, v, 14 strokes, rank #3052, Very Hard
讽刺
fěngcì
to mock
HSK 7, v, 14 strokes, rank #3052, Very Hard
讽刺
fěngcì
irony
HSK 7, v, 14 strokes, rank #3052, Very Hard
讽刺
fěngcì
satire
HSK 7, v, 14 strokes, rank #3052, Very Hard
讽刺
fěngcì
sarcasm
HSK 7, v, 14 strokes, rank #3052, Very Hard
fěngcì(feng3ci4)feng ci T3
1to satirize
2to mock
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
讽刺(諷刺)fěngcì(feng3ci4)
讽刺 (fèngcì) means to satirize or mock someone or something, often using irony or sarcasm. It is commonly used in literature, media, and daily conversation to criticize social norms or behaviors in a humorous yet pointed way.
Strokes14Frequency#3052DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
讽刺 has deep roots in Chinese literature, especially in classic works like 'The Travels of Lao Can' which employs satire to critique societal issues. Understanding this context can enhance appreciation of modern Chinese media.
Memory tip
Think of 讽 (fèng) as a 'phoen' (phone) that rings to remind you to 'see' (ci) the irony in life. Visualize a phone call where the caller mocks a situation, emphasizing the humor in the critique.
Meanings of 讽刺
fěngcì(feng3ci4)
1to satirize
2to mock
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 讽刺
讽刺Simplified
諷刺Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3052Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 讽刺
Podcast: 讽刺
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AI study notes for 讽刺
Quick Contrast
嘲笑 (cháoxiào) — use 讽刺 when emphasizing irony or a deeper critique, while 嘲笑 focuses on simply making fun of someone.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to use 讽刺 in overly formal contexts, as it can come off as disrespectful. Common collocations include 讽刺作品 (satirical work) and 讽刺漫画 (satirical cartoon). Tone pitfalls include confusing the third tone (fèng) with the second tone.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 讽刺 connects with other words related to criticism and humor. Students should focus on recognizing its use in different contexts and practice forming sentences that convey satire.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 讽刺 with other words like 嘲笑 (chao2xiao4), which means to ridicule, but lacks the nuanced critique. For example, saying '他在讽刺我' (He is mocking me) may imply a lighter tone than intended; it should be more contextually appropriate.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 讽刺
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Knowing 讽刺 is seven skills, not one.
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.
讽刺 (fèngcì) means to satirize or mock someone or something, often using irony or sarcasm. It is commonly used in literature, media, and daily conversation to criticize social norms or behaviors in a humorous yet pointed way.
When to use 讽刺
Be careful not to use 讽刺 in overly formal contexts, as it can come off as disrespectful. Common collocations include 讽刺作品 (satirical work) and 讽刺漫画 (satirical cartoon). Tone pitfalls include confusing the third tone (fèng) with the second tone.
讽刺 or something close to it
嘲笑 (cháoxiào) — use 讽刺 when emphasizing irony or a deeper critique, while 嘲笑 focuses on simply making fun of someone.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 讽刺 with other words like 嘲笑 (chao2xiao4), which means to ridicule, but lacks the nuanced critique. For example, saying '他在讽刺我' (He is mocking me) may imply a lighter tone than intended; it should be more contextually appropriate.
Write 讽刺
讽
刺
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Practice writing 讽刺 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 讽刺
讽刺 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
它用____的语言呈现了天主教作家郑重其事表明的观点。
It presented in satirical terms points made in earnest by Catholic writers.
Example sentences for 讽刺 (16)
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1
它用讽刺的语言呈现了天主教作家郑重其事表明的观点。
tā yòng fěngcì de yǔyán chéngxiàn le tiānzhǔjiào zuòjiā zhèngzhòng qí shì biǎomíng de guāndiǎn。
It presented in satirical terms points made in earnest by Catholic writers.
2
他的作品带有一种讽刺意味的幽默。
tā de zuòpǐn dàiyǒu yī zhǒng fěngcì yìwèi de yōumò。
