呲 (cī) - to scold & to berate
呲 · cī
to scold;
to berate;
to show teeth in anger;
also used to describe exposing teeth or a grimace
to scoldto berateto show teeth in anger
Usage highlights
to scold someoneto bare teethto grimace/show teeth angrilyto be scoldedto scold severelyelectric spark
Usage & contexts
Examples
- The boss scolded him severely (老板呲了他一顿).
- The dog bared its teeth (狗呲着牙).
- He made a face at me (他对我呲牙咧嘴).
Collocations
- to scold someone(呲人)
- to bare teeth(呲牙)
- to grimace/show teeth angrily(呲牙咧嘴)
- to be scolded(挨呲)
- to scold severely(呲一顿)
- electric spark(电呲火)
Idioms
- To bare fangs and brandish claws(呲牙咧嘴)
- To scold and reprimand(呲哒一顿)
Cultural background
FAQ- Often used in Northern Chinese dialects, particularly Beijing dialect, to mean scolding or reprimanding.
- The character depicts opening the mouth (口) to expose something, hence the meanings of showing teeth and scolding.
- Considered informal/colloquial language rather than formal written Chinese.