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Summary: Learn the true meaning of 可笑 (kěxiào), a crucial Chinese adjective that goes beyond simple “funny.” While it translates to “laughable,” 可笑 (kěxiào) is almost always used to mean “ridiculous,” “absurd,” or “preposterous,” carrying a strong negative or scornful connotation. This guide will break down the characters, explain the cultural context, and show you how to distinguish it from the more positive word for “funny,” 好笑 (hǎoxiào), with 10 practical example sentences.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): kěxiào
Part of Speech: Adjective
HSK Level: HSK 5
Concise Definition: Describing something as so absurd, foolish, or illogical that it is worthy of being laughed at; ridiculous.
In a Nutshell: Don't be fooled by the character for “laugh” (笑). 可笑 (kěxiào) isn't about telling a good joke. It's what you say when you can't believe how silly, illogical, or pathetic something is. Think of it as “laughably bad” or “ridiculous.” When you use 可笑, you are laughing *at* something, not *with* it. It expresses scorn, disbelief, or derision.
Character Breakdown
可 (kě): This versatile character means “can,” “able to,” or acts as a suffix “-able.” It suggests a potential or capability. For example, 可爱 (kě'ài) is “lovable,” and 可能 (kěnéng) is “possible.”
笑 (xiào): This character simply means “to laugh” or “to smile.”
Together, 可笑 (kěxiào) literally means “laugh-able” or “able to be laughed at.” This structure is key: it implies that the subject possesses qualities that make it a target of laughter, not because it's humorous, but because it's foolish or absurd.
Cultural Context and Significance
Saving Face (面子 - miànzi): In Chinese culture, protecting one's own and others' “face” (social dignity) is paramount. Calling someone's idea, action, or statement 可笑 is a powerful criticism that can directly cause them to lose face (丢面子 - diū miànzi). It's not just a disagreement; it's a dismissal of their judgment and intelligence as being fundamentally flawed and worthy of ridicule. Because of this, using it directly toward a person in a formal or public setting is considered very harsh.
Comparison to “Funny”: In English, the word “funny” is ambiguous. It can mean “funny ha-ha” (amusing) or “funny-peculiar” (strange). 可笑 adds a third, more critical dimension: “funny-ridiculous.”
Funny (Amusing): Use 好笑 (hǎoxiào). That comedian is funny.
Funny (Strange): Use 奇怪 (qíguài). It's funny that the lights are on, but no one is home.
Funny (Ridiculous): Use 可笑 (kěxiào). You think you can finish that whole project in one day? That's funny! (Here, “funny” means ridiculous).
Practical Usage in Modern China
可笑 (kěxiào) is a common word in modern Mandarin, used to express strong disapproval or disbelief.
Connotation: Almost exclusively negative. It can range from mild exasperation to outright contempt.
Formality: Can be used in both informal and formal contexts, but its strength makes it inherently confrontational when directed at a person.
Common Scenarios:
Rejecting an Idea or Plan: When a proposal is illogical or poorly thought out. “你这个计划太可笑了，根本行不通。” (Your plan is ridiculous, it'll never work.)
Dismissing an Excuse: When someone gives a flimsy or unbelievable reason for something. “堵车？这个借口真是可笑。” (Traffic jam? That excuse is truly laughable.)
Social Media Commentary: Very common in online comments to express scorn for a post, opinion, or public figure's actions.
Self-deprecation: In rare cases, one might use it self-deprecatingly to describe a past foolish belief. “现在回想起来，我当时的想法真可笑。” (Thinking back on it now, my ideas at the time were really laughable.)
Example Sentences
Example 1:
他提出的理由非常可笑，没人相信。
Pinyin: Tā tíchū de lǐyóu fēicháng kěxiào, méi rén xiāngxìn.
English: The reason he gave was so ridiculous that nobody believed it.
Analysis: Here, 可笑 describes an excuse or reason that is transparently false or absurd.
English: A: I can be full of energy on only three hours of sleep a day. B: Ridiculous.
Analysis: Demonstrates how 可笑 can be used as a standalone, one-word response to dismiss something as utter nonsense.
Example 10:
认为地球是平的，这是一个可笑的观点。
Pinyin: Rènwéi dìqiú shì píng de, zhè shì yī ge kěxiào de guāndiǎn.
English: Thinking the earth is flat is a ridiculous point of view.
Analysis: A clear, objective use of 可笑 to label a belief or opinion as factually absurd.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
The Ultimate Mistake: 可笑 (kěxiào) vs. 好笑 (hǎoxiào)
This is the most common pitfall for learners. They are NOT interchangeable.
好笑 (hǎoxiào): Use this for things that are genuinely funny and make you laugh in a positive way. A good joke, a funny movie, a witty friend. It means “amusing” or “funny.”
可笑 (kěxiào): Use this for things that are ridiculous, absurd, or pathetic. A terrible excuse, a foolish plan, an illogical argument.
Incorrect Usage Example:
Wrong: `这个喜剧演员很可笑。` (This comedian is ridiculous.)
Why it's wrong: This sounds like you are insulting the comedian, saying they are pathetic or their act is laughably bad, not that they are good at their job.
Correct: `这个喜剧演员很好笑。` (This comedian is very funny.)
Tone is Everything: Remember that 可笑 is a very strong, critical word. Using it in conversation, especially when talking about something a person has said or done, can be perceived as an insult. Be mindful of the context and your relationship with the person you're speaking to.
Related Terms and Concepts
好笑 (hǎoxiào) - The positive-connotation counterpart to 可笑. It means “funny” or “amusing.”
荒谬 (huāngmiù) - A more formal and even stronger synonym for 可笑, meaning “absurd” or “preposterous.” It has a more intellectual or philosophical weight.
滑稽 (huájī) - Means “comical,” “funny,” or “droll.” It often describes a visual or physical humor, like a clown's actions. It's less judgmental than 可笑.
愚蠢 (yúchǔn) - “Stupid” or “foolish.” While a foolish action can be 可笑, 愚蠢 is a direct attack on a person's intelligence.
幼稚 (yòuzhì) - “Childish” or “naive.” Often used to describe behavior or ideas that lack maturity, which can also be seen as 可笑.
笑话 (xiàohuà) - This noun means “joke,” but can also mean “laughingstock.” To call someone a 笑话 is to say they are a joke, which is very similar to calling their actions 可笑.
出丑 (chūchǒu) - A verb meaning “to make a fool of oneself” or “to lose face.” A 可笑 action often results in the person 出丑.
无稽之谈 (wú jī zhī tán) - An idiom meaning “groundless talk” or “sheer nonsense.” A perfect description for an idea you would call 可笑.