qǔxiào: 取笑 - To Make Fun Of, Mock, Ridicule

• Keywords: quxiao, 取笑, make fun of Chinese, tease in Chinese, ridicule in Chinese, how to say mock in Chinese, Chinese word for teasing, qǔxiào meaning, qǔxiào examples, difference between 取笑 and 开玩笑.
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word 取笑 (qǔxiào), which means to make fun of, mock, or ridicule someone. This page explains the meaning of qǔxiào, its cultural context related to “face,” and how it differs from playful teasing. With many practical examples, you'll understand when and why this term is used, and how to avoid the common mistake of confusing it with the more lighthearted term “开玩笑” (kāi wánxiào).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qǔ xiào
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To make fun of, mock, or ridicule someone, usually in a negative or hurtful way.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine someone pointing out your mistake in front of others and laughing. That feeling of embarrassment and being targeted for amusement is the core of 取笑. It's not about friendly, playful banter; it's about deriving humor from someone else's expense, flaw, or misfortune. It almost always carries a negative connotation.

• 取 (qǔ): This character's primary meaning is “to take” or “to get.” Think of it as taking something for your own use.
• 笑 (xiào): This character means “to laugh” or “to smile.” It's a pictogram of a person with crinkled eyes, showing happiness or amusement.
• Combined Meaning: When you put them together, 取笑 (qǔxiào) literally means “to take a laugh.” The implication is that you are “taking” a laugh at someone else's expense. This combination perfectly captures the idea of using someone as the source of your amusement, which is why it has a negative, mocking feel.

In Chinese culture, the concept of 面子 (miànzi), or “face,” is paramount. “Face” refers to a person's reputation, dignity, and social standing. To 取笑 someone is a direct attack on their 面子. It causes them to “lose face” (丢脸, diūliǎn), which can be a serious social offense. A Westerner might compare 取笑 to “teasing.” However, this is a dangerous comparison. In many Western cultures, light-hearted teasing or “roasting” among friends can be a sign of intimacy and affection. In China, this is rarely the case. 取笑 is almost never seen as affectionate. It's perceived as mean-spirited, disrespectful, and a violation of social harmony. While close friends might joke around, they would use the term 开玩笑 (kāi wánxiào), not 取笑. Using 取笑 to describe friendly banter would imply a malicious intent that isn't there. This is because maintaining group harmony and ensuring no one feels publicly embarrassed is often prioritized over individualistic expression of humor.

取笑 is a common word, but its usage is almost exclusively negative.

• Among Children and Teenagers: This is where you'll hear it most often, used to describe bullying-like behavior. For example, making fun of someone's clothes, accent, or a wrong answer in class.
• Among Adults: Adults use the word to describe or condemn mocking behavior. An adult who frequently makes fun of others would be seen as immature, unkind, and having low emotional intelligence. You might hear someone say, “别取笑他了” (Don't make fun of him anymore).
• Connotation: Strongly negative. It implies a power imbalance where one person is making another person the butt of a joke without their consent. It is never a compliment and is not used for playful situations.

• Example 1:
  • 别拿我的发音取笑了，我还在学习。
  • Pinyin: Bié ná wǒ de fāyīn qǔxiào le, wǒ hái zài xuéxí.
  • English: Stop making fun of my pronunciation, I'm still learning.
  • Analysis: This is a direct and common way to ask someone to stop mocking you. The object of the mockery is “我的发音” (my pronunciation).
• Example 2:
  • 孩子们不应该互相取笑对方的穿着。
  • Pinyin: Háizi men bù yìnggāi hùxiāng qǔxiào duìfāng de chuānzhuó.
  • English: Children shouldn't make fun of each other's clothing.
  • Analysis: This sentence expresses a moral judgment about the act of 取笑. It highlights a typical scenario for mocking (clothing).
• Example 3:
  • 他因为个子矮，小时候常常被同学取笑。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi gèzi ǎi, xiǎoshíhou chángcháng bèi tóngxué qǔxiào.
  • English: Because he was short, he was often made fun of by his classmates when he was little.
  • Analysis: This example uses the passive structure “被 (bèi)” to show that he was the recipient of the mocking. This is a very common structure.
• Example 4:
  • 你是在取笑我吗？我感觉被冒犯了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì zài qǔxiào wǒ ma? Wǒ gǎnjué bèi màofàn le.
  • English: Are you making fun of me? I feel offended.
  • Analysis: This is a confrontational question, used when you suspect someone's “joke” has crossed the line into mockery.
• Example 5:
  • 他这个人最大的缺点就是喜欢取笑别人。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhège rén zuìdà de quēdiǎn jiùshì xǐhuān qǔxiào biérén.
  • English: This person's biggest shortcoming is that he likes to make fun of others.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes a person's negative character trait using 取笑.
• Example 6:
  • 她只是在跟你开玩笑，不是真的要取笑你。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhǐshì zài gēn nǐ kāi wánxiào, bùshì zhēn de yào qǔxiào nǐ.
  • English: She's just joking with you, not really trying to make fun of you.
  • Analysis: This sentence is crucial as it directly contrasts “开玩笑” (joking) with 取笑 (making fun of), showing they are different in intent.
• Example 7:
  • 因为他在会议上说错了话，他被同事们取笑了很久。
  • Pinyin: Yīnwèi tā zài huìyì shàng shuō cuò le huà, tā bèi tóngshìmen qǔxiào le hěn jiǔ.
  • English: Because he said the wrong thing in the meeting, he was ridiculed by his colleagues for a long time.
  • Analysis: This shows how a professional mistake can become the subject of 取笑.
• Example 8:
  • 我们不应该取笑残疾人。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bù yìnggāi qǔxiào cánjírén.
  • English: We should not make fun of disabled people.
  • Analysis: A straightforward sentence expressing a strong social taboo. 取笑 here means ridicule in a very serious sense.
• Example 9:
  • 他讲了一个取笑自己的笑话，缓解了紧张的气氛。
  • Pinyin: Tā jiǎng le yí ge qǔxiào zìjǐ de xiàohuà, huǎnjiě le jǐnzhāng de qìfēn.
  • English: He told a self-deprecating joke (a joke that made fun of himself) and eased the tense atmosphere.
  • Analysis: This shows a less common, but possible, use: self-deprecation. By directing the 取笑 at himself, he is in control and it's not hurtful.
• Example 10:
  • 请不要把我的好意当作取笑的对象。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bùyào bǎ wǒ de hǎoyì dàngzuò qǔxiào de duìxiàng.
  • English: Please don't take my good intentions as an object of ridicule.
  • Analysis: This is a more formal and abstract usage, where “good intentions” is the thing being mocked. “对象 (duìxiàng)” means “target” or “object.”

The single most important mistake for learners to avoid is confusing 取笑 (qǔxiào) with 开玩笑 (kāi wánxiào).

• 取笑 (qǔxiào): To mock, ridicule. (Negative, hurtful, attacks someone's flaws).
• 开玩笑 (kāi wánxiào): To joke, to kid. (Neutral or positive, light-hearted, not meant to harm).

Think of it this way:

• Friends 开玩笑 with each other.
• Bullies 取笑 their victims.

Incorrect Usage Example:

• Wrong: 我们是好朋友，所以我们经常互相取笑。 (Wǒmen shì hǎo péngyǒu, suǒyǐ wǒmen jīngcháng hùxiāng qǔxiào.)
• Why it's wrong: This sounds like you have a toxic friendship where you constantly mock and hurt each other. A Chinese listener would be confused and concerned.
• Correct: 我们是好朋友，所以我们经常互相开玩笑。 (Wǒmen shì hǎo péngyǒu, suǒyǐ wǒmen jīngcháng hùxiāng kāi wánxiào.)
• Translation: “We are good friends, so we often joke with each other.” This is natural and expresses a healthy, fun relationship.

• 开玩笑 (kāi wánxiào) - The opposite in connotation. It means “to joke” or “to kid around” and is generally harmless and friendly.
• 嘲笑 (cháoxiào) - A stronger synonym for 取笑. It means “to jeer at” or “to mock,” often with an element of scorn or contempt. It's more severe.
• 逗 (dòu) - This is the word for playful, affectionate teasing. You might 逗 a child, a pet, or a romantic partner to make them laugh. It's gentle and positive.
• 讽刺 (fěngcì) - To be sarcastic; to satirize. This is a more intelligent form of mockery that often uses irony.
• 挖苦 (wāku) - To speak sarcastically or make cynical remarks, often with a bitter or cutting edge. Literally “to dig at bitterness.”
• 戏弄 (xìnòng) - To tease, fool, or play a trick on someone. It can be playful or malicious depending on the context.
• 欺负 (qīfu) - To bully. Repeatedly making fun of someone (取笑) is a form of 欺负.
• 面子 (miànzi) - The crucial cultural concept of “face” or social dignity. 取笑 is a common way to make someone lose 面子.