Chinese word

调侃

Pronunciation

Pinyintiáo kǎn

Meaning

  • verbtease

Example

别总是调侃他，他会生气。bié zǒng shì tiáo kǎn tā tā huì shēng qì

Don't always tease him; he'll get angry.

Illustration for 调侃 (tease)

More examples

在朋友之间，大家常常相互调侃，气氛很轻松。zài péng yǒu zhī jiān dà jiā cháng cháng xiāng hù tiáo kǎn qì fēn hěn qīng sōng

Among friends, everyone often teases one another, and the atmosphere is relaxed.

Core concept

A speaker turns someone's words or behavior into a target for light, witty teasing that may hide a sharper edge.

Common phrases

  • 相互调侃xiāng hù tiáo kǎn

    tease one another

  • 被人调侃bèi rén tiáo kǎn

    be made fun of

  • 善意地调侃shàn yì dì tiáo kǎn

    tease in a friendly way

Similar words

逗dòu: Using words or actions to tease someone and bring them amusement.
戏弄xì nòng: Playing with someone by teasing them, sometimes in a deliberately hurtful way.
嘲笑cháo xiào: Mocking someone by laughing at a failure or personal flaw.
讥讽jī fěng: Expressing criticism through indirect, sarcastic, and cutting remarks.

Definition in Chinese

用轻松或戏谑的语气拿别人的言行开玩笑，往往带有试探或嘲讽的意味。yòng qīng sōng huò xì xuè de yǔ qì ná bié rén de yán xíng kāi wán xiào wáng wǎng dài yǒu shì tàn huò cháo fěng de yì wèi

Word origin

调侃 (tiáokǎn, "tease") is a fixed colloquial compound whose meaning developed as a whole around verbal teasing, rather than serving as a dependable literal sum of its characters.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often hear teasing as clearly friendly or clearly hostile, but this word can cover both, so a warm tone does not always prevent the remark from sounding mocking.

Other meanings

  • make fun ofverb
  • joke aboutverb
  • mockverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 调侃者tiáo kǎn zhěteasernoun

Word lists with this word