笑

• Pinyin: xiào
• Hanzi breakdown: 笑 = 竹 (bamboo) + 夭 (bending/young) — a person doubled over with laughter

Meaning

To laugh; to smile. Expresses amusement, happiness, or a friendly expression.

A versatile verb covering both laughing out loud and smiling quietly. Context and adverbs distinguish the degree: 大笑 (roaring with laughter), 微笑 (smile gently), 苦笑 (bitter smile). Can also mean to laugh at or mock someone when followed by 他/她: 别笑我 (don't laugh at me). One of the first emotional verbs learners encounter.

Examples

1. 他听了笑起来。 He heard it and burst out laughing.
2. 她总是对我笑。 She always smiles at me.
3. 孩子们开心地笑着。 The children are laughing happily.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, emotional

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 他笑了。(He laughed / He smiled.)
• 别笑，认真一点。(Stop laughing, be serious.)

Don't Say

• 混淆'笑'和'微笑'的用法。(Don't assume 笑 always means a big laugh — it covers smiling too; use 微笑 if you specifically mean a gentle smile)

Origin & History

The character 笑 shows 竹 (bamboo) over 夭 (bending/young), thought to depict a person bending over with laughter, or bamboo swaying gracefully — both images associated with joy.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal