Chinese word

起哄

Pronunciation

Pinyinqǐ hòng

Meaning

  • verbheckle

Example

别在演出时起哄。bié zài yǎn chū shí qǐ hòng

Don't heckle during the performance.

Illustration for 起哄 (heckle)

More examples

考试时教室外有人起哄，监考老师很生气。kǎo shì shí jiào shì wài yǒu rén qǐ hòng jiān kǎo lǎo shī hěn shēng qì

Someone outside the classroom heckled during the exam, and the proctor was very angry.

Core concept

A crowd raises noisy voices to disrupt a public scene, mock someone, or stir others into action.

Common phrases

  • 观众起哄guān zhòng qǐ hòng

    audience heckling

  • 当众起哄dāng zhòng qǐ hòng

    heckling in public

Similar words

喝倒彩hè dào cǎi: Shouting disapproving cries as a group during a performance.
嘲笑cháo xiào: Mocking someone by laughing aloud at them.

Definition in Chinese

在公共场合人群通过喊声或笑声干扰、嘲讽或煽动某人或某事的行为，常见于争执或演出现场。zài gōng gòng chǎng hé rén qún tōng guò hǎn shēng huò xiào shēng gān rǎo cháo fěng huò shān dòng mǒu rén huò mǒu shì de xíng wéi cháng jiàn yú zhēng zhí huò yǎn chū xiàn chǎng

Word origin

The compound 起哄 (qǐhòng, "heckle") combines 起 (qǐ, "start") with 哄 (hòng, "make a noisy fuss"), framing a crowd's disruptive reaction as noise that starts up.

Usage tips

  • The word often describes spectators joining a noisy reaction, so it fits a performance or public dispute better than a quiet private disagreement.

Other meanings

  • make a fussverb
  • egg onverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 起哄声qǐ hòng shēnghecklingnoun

Word lists with this word