Chinese word

挖苦

Pronunciation

Pinyinwā kǔ

Meaning

  • verbmake sarcastic remarks about

Example

别总是挖苦他，太伤人了。bié zǒng shì wā kǔ tā tài shāng rén le

Don't always make sarcastic remarks about him; it's too hurtful.

Illustration for 挖苦 (make sarcastic remarks about)

More examples

他在会议上当众用笑话来挖苦同事，让人很尴尬。tā zài huì yì shàng dàng zhòng yòng xiào huà lái wā kǔ tóng shì ràng rén hěn gān gà

At the meeting, he publicly used jokes to mock a colleague, making everyone feel awkward.

Core concept

Sharp words that dig into someone's sore spot with a mocking or dissatisfied edge.

Common phrases

  • 挖苦别人wā kǔ bié rén

    make sarcastic remarks about other people

  • 挖苦话wā kǔ huà

    sarcastic remarks

  • 被挖苦bèi wā kǔ

    be ridiculed

Similar words

讥讽jī fěng: Using seemingly mild sarcasm to criticize someone indirectly.
嘲讽cháo fěng: Mocking someone directly with scornful words or actions.
嘲笑cháo xiào: Making fun of someone to show that they are not respected.
嘲弄cháo nòng: Taunting someone in an insulting way that causes humiliation.

Definition in Chinese

用尖刻或含讥讽的语言嘲弄对方，常带有取笑或表达不满的意味。yòng jiān kè huò hán jī fěng de yǔ yán cháo nòng duì fāng cháng dài yǒu qǔ xiào huò biǎo dá bù mǎn de yì wèi

Word origin

挖苦 (wākǔ, "make sarcastic remarks about") combines 挖 (wā, "dig") and 苦 (kǔ, "bitter"), creating the image of words digging into another person's painful spot.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, using this verb can signal criticism of the speaker's manner as well as the content of the comment, so it carries a clear negative judgment.

Other meanings

  • teaseverb
  • mockverb
  • ridiculeverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word