cháoxiào: 嘲笑 - To Laugh At, To Mock, To Ridicule

• Keywords: cháoxiào, 嘲笑, mock Chinese, ridicule Chinese, laugh at in Chinese, make fun of Chinese, teasing in Chinese, what does chaoxiao mean, how to use 嘲笑, Chinese verb, HSK 5 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of 嘲笑 (cháoxiào), a common Chinese verb for “to mock” or “ridicule.” This guide explains how 嘲笑 is different from friendly teasing, its cultural connection to “saving face,” and how to use it correctly in sentences. Understand why you should never confuse it with “joking around” (开玩笑) to avoid misunderstandings.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): cháoxiào
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To laugh at someone or something in a scornful, contemptuous, or belittling way.
• In a Nutshell: 嘲笑 (cháoxiào) is not just “laughing.” It's laughing at someone with a negative, hurtful intent. It implies that the person laughing feels superior and wants to make the other person feel small or embarrassed. Think of schoolyard bullies making fun of another child—that's a perfect example of 嘲笑. It's a word loaded with negative connotation.

• 嘲 (cháo): This character is composed of two parts. On the left is the “mouth” radical 口 (kǒu), indicating the action is related to speaking or making sounds with the mouth. On the right, 朝 (cháo) provides the phonetic sound. Together, 嘲 suggests a mocking or jeering sound made with the mouth.
• 笑 (xiào): This is the standard character for “to laugh” or “to smile.” It depicts a person bending over with glee.
• When combined, 嘲笑 (cháoxiào) literally means “to mock-laugh.” The first character specifies the type of laughter—one filled with scorn and ridicule.

In Western cultures, “teasing” or “roasting” can sometimes be a sign of affection and camaraderie among close friends. In Chinese culture, this line is much sharper, and 嘲笑 (cháoxiào) falls squarely on the side of maliciousness. The act of 嘲笑 is directly linked to the critical cultural concept of 面子 (miànzi), or “face.” To be publicly mocked is to suffer a significant loss of face, causing deep humiliation and disrupting social harmony. While close Chinese friends do joke with each other (using the term 开玩笑 (kāi wánxiào)), using the word 嘲笑 to describe their interaction would imply a toxic, disrespectful relationship. Therefore, understanding 嘲笑 is not just about vocabulary; it's about understanding the cultural importance of dignity, respect, and maintaining social harmony. Accusing someone of 嘲笑 is a serious charge, implying they have intentionally tried to humiliate you.

嘲笑 (cháoxiào) is a strong, negative verb used in various situations where someone is being belittled.

• In Daily Conversation: It's often used in a defensive or accusatory way. For example, a child might run home and say, “同学们嘲笑我的新发型 (Tóngxuémen cháoxiào wǒ de xīn fàxíng)” - “My classmates laughed at my new haircut.”
• Describing Bullying: It's a core vocabulary word for describing bullying at school or in the workplace.
• Online: In the world of social media and online forums, 嘲笑 can describe the act of “trolling” or leaving scornful comments to make fun of someone's post, opinion, or work.
• Connotation: The connotation is almost exclusively negative. It is not a word used for lighthearted, friendly banter.

• Example 1:
  • 你不应该嘲笑别人的梦想。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bù yīnggāi cháoxiào biérén de mèngxiǎng.
  • English: You shouldn't ridicule other people's dreams.
  • Analysis: A straightforward sentence giving advice. It shows the serious, moral weight of the word.
• Example 2:
  • 因为他穿的衣服很旧，所以被同学们嘲笑了。
  • Pinyin: Yīnwèi tā chuān de yīfu hěn jiù, suǒyǐ bèi tóngxuémen cháoxiào le.
  • English: Because the clothes he wore were very old, he was mocked by his classmates.
  • Analysis: This example uses the passive voice with 被 (bèi) to emphasize that he was the recipient of the mocking.
• Example 3:
  • 你是在嘲笑我的口音吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì zài cháoxiào wǒ de kǒuyīn ma?
  • English: Are you making fun of my accent?
  • Analysis: A common question used when someone feels they are being belittled. The phrase 是在…吗？ (shì zài…ma?) adds an accusatory tone.
• Example 4:
  • 他害怕被别人嘲笑，所以不敢在公共场合说话。
  • Pinyin: Tā hàipà bèi biérén cháoxiào, suǒyǐ bù gǎn zài gōnggòng chǎnghé shuōhuà.
  • English: He is afraid of being ridiculed by others, so he doesn't dare to speak in public.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the psychological effect of the fear of being mocked.
• Example 5:
  • 别嘲笑他，他已经尽力了。
  • Pinyin: Bié cháoxiào tā, tā yǐjīng jìnlì le.
  • English: Don't laugh at him; he has already done his best.
  • Analysis: The command 别 (bié) is used to stop someone from performing the negative action of mocking.
• Example 6:
  • 他的失败成了大家嘲笑的对象。
  • Pinyin: Tā de shībài chéngle dàjiā cháoxiào de duìxiàng.
  • English: His failure became the object of everyone's ridicule.
  • Analysis: This shows how 嘲笑 can be used with 对象 (duìxiàng) to mean “target” or “object” of ridicule.
• Example 7:
  • 我能听出他话语中带着一丝嘲笑的意味。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ néng tīng chū tā huàyǔ zhōng dàizhe yì sī cháoxiào de yìwèi.
  • English: I could detect a hint of mockery in his words.
  • Analysis: Here, 嘲笑 is used with 的 (de) to function like an adjective, describing the “meaning” or “flavor” (意味) of his speech.
• Example 8:
  • 当我摔倒时，他不但没扶我，反而大声嘲笑我。
  • Pinyin: Dāng wǒ shuāidǎo shí, tā bùdàn méi fú wǒ, fǎn'ér dàshēng cháoxiào wǒ.
  • English: When I fell, not only did he not help me up, but he laughed loudly at me instead.
  • Analysis: The structure 不但…反而… (bùdàn…fǎn'ér…) emphasizes the cruelty of the action.
• Example 9:
  • 与其嘲笑别人的缺点，不如看看自己的不足。
  • Pinyin: Yǔqí cháoxiào biérén de quēdiǎn, bùrú kànkan zìjǐ de bùzú.
  • English: Rather than mock others' shortcomings, it's better to look at your own.
  • Analysis: A philosophical sentence using the 与其…不如… (yǔqí…bùrú…) structure to offer advice.
• Example 10:
  • 他脸上露出了嘲笑的笑容。
  • Pinyin: Tā liǎn shàng lùchū le cháoxiào de xiàoróng.
  • English: A mocking smile appeared on his face.
  • Analysis: Another adjectival use, where 嘲笑的 describes the type of smile (笑容).

The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing 嘲笑 (cháoxiào) with friendly teasing.

• False Friends: 嘲笑 (cháoxiào) vs. 开玩笑 (kāi wánxiào)
  • 嘲笑 (cháoxiào): Malicious, hurtful, meant to belittle. It's laughing AT someone.
  • 开玩笑 (kāi wánxiào): To joke, to tease, to kid around. Usually friendly and lighthearted. It's laughing WITH someone.
• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • `我和我的好朋友们总是互相嘲笑。`
  • `(Wǒ hé wǒ de hǎo péngyǒumen zǒngshì hùxiāng cháoxiào.)`
  • Why it's wrong: This sentence translates to “My good friends and I are always maliciously mocking each other.” It describes a very unhealthy, toxic friendship.
  • Correct Version: `我和我的好朋友们总是互相开玩笑。 (Wǒ hé wǒ de hǎo péngyǒumen zǒngshì hùxiāng kāi wánxiào.)` - “My good friends and I are always joking with each other.”

Remember: If there's any sense of contempt, superiority, or intent to humiliate, the word is 嘲笑. If it's done in good fun between equals, the term is 开玩笑.

• 开玩笑 (kāi wánxiào) - The opposite concept: to joke or tease in a friendly manner.
• 讽刺 (fěngcì) - To satirize or mock, often using irony. It can be more subtle and intellectual than 嘲笑.
• 讥笑 (jīxiào) - A close, formal synonym for 嘲笑. It means to sneer at or jeer.
• 取笑 (qǔxiào) - To make fun of. This word is a bit of a middle ground; it can be light teasing or more negative, but it's generally not as strong as 嘲笑.
• 鄙视 (bǐshì) - To despise or look down on. This is the feeling that often leads to the action of 嘲笑.
• 看不起 (kànbuqǐ) - To look down upon. Very similar to 鄙视 and a common reason for someone to 嘲笑 another.
• 侮辱 (wǔrǔ) - To insult or humiliate. This is a broader term for causing offense, and 嘲笑 is one way to do it.
• 笑话 (xiàohuà) - As a noun, it means “a joke.” As a verb, it can mean “to laugh at,” and in that context, it carries a negative meaning similar to 嘲笑.
• 面子 (miànzi) - The crucial concept of “face” or social dignity, which is damaged when one is the target of 嘲笑.