啋 (cǎi) - An exclamation expressing disapproval or contempt & to spit

啋Tone 3

cǎi ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

偲嫦

啋 · cǎi

An exclamation expressing disapproval or contempt;

to spit;

to reject;

also used in some dialects.

An exclamation expressing disapproval or contemptto spitto reject

Usage highlights

Spit in contemptMake disapproving soundsExpression of disgustReject bad luckSpit out

Synonyms

  • 呸— expression of contempt or disgust
  • 唾— to spit

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He spat in disgust (啋了一口).
  • What nonsense!(啋！胡说八道！)
  • That's inauspicious talk (啋啋声, meaning disapproving sounds).

Collocations

  • Spit in contempt(啋一口)
  • Make disapproving sounds(啋啋声)
  • Expression of disgust(啋声)
  • Reject bad luck(啋走衰运)
  • Spit out(啋出)

Idioms

  • Spit to ward off bad luck(啋走衰运)
  • Spit in contempt(啋唾沫)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used as an exclamation to ward off bad luck or express strong disapproval in some Chinese dialects.
  • In Cantonese, often used superstitiously to negate something unlucky that was just said.

FAQ