挖苦

• Pinyin: wā ku
• Hanzi breakdown: 挖 = 扌 (hand) + 空 (hollow out); 苦 = 艹 (grass) + 古 (old) — originally the bitter tasting plant

Meaning

To mock; to jeer at; to make cutting or sarcastic remarks. Using sharp, sarcastic words to ridicule or belittle someone.

Specifically implies a type of verbal attack that is cutting, pointed, and intended to wound. More aggressive than teasing (开玩笑) and distinct from general criticism (批评). The person being ridiculed typically feels humiliated. Often describes the speech of someone with a sharp or cruel tongue, or verbal sparring in conflict.

Examples

1. 他失败之后，有些人不但不安慰，反而趁机挖苦他。 After his failure, some people not only offered no comfort but took the opportunity to mock him.
2. 她最不能忍受的就是当众被人挖苦，觉得颜面尽失。 The one thing she can't stand is being publicly ridiculed — she finds it utterly humiliating.
3. 老师的挖苦话语让这个本来就不自信的孩子更加沉默了。 The teacher's cutting remarks made an already insecure child withdraw even further into silence.

Usage Guide

Context: interpersonal, conflict, social

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 你这样挖苦别人，只会让人心寒，解决不了任何问题。(Making those cutting remarks about others will only chill people's hearts — it won't solve any problems.)
• 他喜欢用挖苦的语气说话，让人觉得相处起来很累。(He likes to speak in a cutting, sarcastic tone, which makes others find him exhausting to be around.)

Don't Say

• 把善意的玩笑称为'挖苦' (挖苦 implies deliberate, hurtful sarcasm; gentle teasing between friends is 开玩笑 or 调侃)

Origin & History

Compound of 挖 (dig into, probe) + 苦 (bitter, painful). Together mean 'dig into someone's sore spot in a bitter way,' i.e., make cutting, painful remarks.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal