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吵嘴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
吵嘴chǎozuǐto quarrelHSK 7, unknown, 23 strokes, rank #29849, Very Hard
chǎozuǐ(chao3zui3)chao zui T3
  1. 1to quarrel
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March 24, 2026

吵嘴chǎozuǐ(chao3zui3)

吵嘴 (chǎo zuǐ) means 'to quarrel' or 'to argue,' typically involving a noisy or heated exchange of words. This term is often used in informal contexts to describe disputes between friends, family, or colleagues, emphasizing the vocal and confrontational aspect of the disagreement.

Strokes23Frequency#29849DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, open confrontation is generally avoided, and arguments are often seen as a loss of face. However,吵嘴 shows that even within close relationships, people may express their disagreements openly, reflecting the complexity of interpersonal dynamics.

Memory tip

Imagine two friends, 'Chao' and 'Zui,' who can't stop bickering about who makes the best noodles. The character 吵 resembles a person shouting, while 嘴 means 'mouth,' symbolizing the act of arguing loudly with one's mouth.

Meanings of 吵嘴

chǎozuǐ(chao3zui3)
1to quarrel
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About 吵嘴

吵嘴Simplified
23Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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Podcast: 吵嘴

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AI study notes for 吵嘴

Quick Contrast

争吵 (zhēngchǎo) vs 吵嘴 (chǎozuǐ): Use 吵嘴 for informal, noisy arguments, while 争吵 is more general and can refer to any type of quarrel.

Usage Notes

吵嘴 is informal and should be avoided in formal situations. A common mistake is to confuse it with 争论 (zhēng lùn), which refers to a more reasoned debate rather than a noisy quarrel. It's often used with words like '朋友' (péng yǒu) meaning 'friends' or '家人' (jiā rén) meaning 'family.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 吵嘴 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be useful for HSK 3-4 learners who are expanding their conversational skills. Students should focus on the context in which disagreements occur, as well as how to express opinions and feelings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 吵嘴 with 争论 (zhēng lùn), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember, 吵嘴 implies a noisy, informal argument, while 争论 suggests a more reasoned discussion. For example, saying '我们在办公室吵嘴' (Wǒmen zài bàn gōng shì chǎo zuǐ) is incorrect; it should be '我们在办公室争论.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 吵嘴

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Component characters

吵chǎoto quarrel
HSK 57 strokes口
View full entry
嘴zuǐmouth
HSK 316 strokes口
View full entry

How to say to quarrel in Chinese

“to quarrel” in Chinese is吵嘴chǎozuǐ

吵嘴 (chǎo zuǐ) means 'to quarrel' or 'to argue,' typically involving a noisy or heated exchange of words. This term is often used in informal contexts to describe disputes between friends, family, or colleagues, emphasizing the vocal and confrontational aspect of the disagreement.

When to use 吵嘴

吵嘴 is informal and should be avoided in formal situations. A common mistake is to confuse it with 争论 (zhēng lùn), which refers to a more reasoned debate rather than a noisy quarrel. It's often used with words like '朋友' (péng yǒu) meaning 'friends' or '家人' (jiā rén) meaning 'family.'

吵嘴 or something close to it

争吵 (zhēngchǎo) vs 吵嘴 (chǎozuǐ): Use 吵嘴 for informal, noisy arguments, while 争吵 is more general and can refer to any type of quarrel.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 吵嘴 with 争论 (zhēng lùn), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember, 吵嘴 implies a noisy, informal argument, while 争论 suggests a more reasoned discussion. For example, saying '我们在办公室吵嘴' (Wǒmen zài bàn gōng shì chǎo zuǐ) is incorrect; it should be '我们在办公室争论.'

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吵
嘴

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Frequently asked questions about 吵嘴

吵嘴 is typically used for lighthearted or informal disputes; for serious conflicts, it's better to use 争吵 (zhēng chǎo) or 争论 (zhēng lùn).

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