HanziGuru.譏 · jī
譏
jī[ji1]Tone 1

to ridicule

HSK 7
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讥
Guru Deep Dive

English · to ridicule

Cached lesson
1 / 1
Topology:Left-right
Strokes:5
Writing Balance Rule: Keep the speech radical on the left compact and narrow, leaving plenty of open space for the right component 咸 so the character does not tilt.
Simplification Logic: Simplified from 譏 by replacing the complex right-side phonetic component 幾 with 咸, streamlining the overall stroke count while preserving the phonetic value in regional or historical variants, though 讥 is the standard modern simplified form.
1. Meaning

to ridicule, to mock, to sneer at

to satireto criticize severely
VerbFormal / LiteraryBound morpheme#speech#emotion#criticism
Sample Usage
  • 大家不要讥笑他。
    dajia buyao jixiao ta.
    Everyone should not ridicule him.
  • 冷g讥
    lengji
    sneer / sarcastic remark
2. Sound
/[t͡ɕi˥]/Tone: 55
譏
jīji1
++
¯(55)
=jī
Build the syllable
Step-by-step blending
ji
Tone mark placement: Tone mark sits on "i" per main-vowel priority (a > e > o; in -iu/-ui the mark takes the second vowel).
Initial Consonant
j
Type: Unaspirated Alveolo-Palatal
Sounds like: j sound like the 'g' in 'gin' or 'j' in 'jeep'
Unaspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: No air puff. Lips spread wide like smiling.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Front of the tongue raised toward the hard palate, blade lightly touching the gum ridge.
Final Rhyme
i
Vowel Group: -i vowel group
Sounds like: ee sound as in 'see' or 'bee'
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'ee'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T1 (55)
1st Tone (High-Flat)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 1 is sung at a steady, high pitch, exactly like staying on the highest note of a doorbell chime.
👂
Listening trap: Confusing it with jī in other tones like jǐ (3rd tone) or jì (4th tone); remember Tone 1 stays strictly high and flat.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: A high, flat horizon line drawn steadily in the air, matching the pitch of a singer holding a high note without wavering.
3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 5 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: Keep the speech radical on the left compact and narrow, leaving plenty of open space for the right component 咸 so the character does not tilt.

Simplification Logic: Simplified from 譏 by replacing the complex right-side phonetic component 幾 with 咸, streamlining the overall stroke count while preserving the phonetic value in regional or historical variants, though 讥 is the standard modern simplified form.

4. Components

Radical 讠 · Speech Radical (Words, speech, language, communication)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 讠 (Indicates that the action involves speech or verbal criticism.)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 咸 (original sound: xián / ji)

Words (讠) spoken with saltiness or sharpness (咸) turn into mockery and ridicule.

  • 讠 Speech radical indicating verbal action
  • 咸 Phonetic and semantic contributor suggesting sharp or biting words
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Combined from the speech signifier (言/讠) to denote speaking, and a phonetic indicator giving the approximate sound.

Semantic Evolution: Originally meant to find fault in speech or gossip, evolving into formal written and spoken terms for open mockery, ridicule, and satire.

  • Often found in classical Chinese texts criticizing political figures or social behavior.
6. Sinosphere
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: キ (ki) / Kun: そし.る (soshiru)
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story

You use your words (讠) to serve up extremely salty, biting remarks (咸) that completely mock and ridicule someone.

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
幾
Phonetic Core (声旁)
嘰
+ 口 (mouth)
璣
+ 王 (jade)
磯
+ 石 (stone)
Explore this family →
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
机(jī)
机 has the wood radical (木) for desk/machine, whereas 讥 has speech (讠) for verbal ridicule.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
我們不應該在背後[___]彆人。
Clue: jī
Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the simplified speech radical 讠 with other left-side components like 氵 (water) or 忄 (heart).

Memory Prompts
Recognition: What does the character 讥 mean, and what is its primary radical?
Production: How do you write the character for 'to ridicule' (jī) using the speech radical?
Real-World Video Context

Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.

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