Chinese word

开玩笑

Pronunciation

Pinyinkāi wán xiào

Meaning

  • verbjoke

Example

别开玩笑了，我是认真的。bié kāi wán xiào le wǒ shì rèn zhēn de

Stop joking. I am serious.

Illustration for 开玩笑 (joke)

More examples

我只是跟你开玩笑，不要生气。wǒ zhǐ shì gēn nǐ kāi wán xiào bú yào shēng qì

I'm just joking with you, so don't be angry.

Core concept

Words that turn an exchange into playful teasing or friendly amusement rather than serious talk.

Common phrases

  • 跟你开玩笑gēn nǐ kāi wán xiào

    joke with you

  • 只是开玩笑zhǐ shì kāi wán xiào

    only joking

  • 别再开玩笑bié zài kāi wán xiào

    don't joke anymore

Similar words

笑xiào: Show amusement through laughter or an amused facial expression.
玩wán: Spend time doing enjoyable activities for fun.

Definition in Chinese

用取笑或戏谑的话对别人说，常用于熟人之间的轻松交流。yòng qǔ xiào huò xì xuè de huà duì bié rén shuō cháng yòng yú shú rén zhī jiān de qīng sōng jiāo liú

Word origin

开玩笑 (kāiwánxiào, "to joke") puts 开 (kāi, "to open or start") before 玩 (wán, "to play") and 笑 (xiào, "to laugh"), creating the image of opening a space for play and laughter.

Usage tips

  • Tone and relationship matter: the same words can sound friendly between friends but rude when aimed at a stranger or at a sensitive subject.

Other meanings

  • teaseverb
  • fool aroundverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 玩笑wán xiàojokenoun

Word lists with this word