retort; answer back sarcastically
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to retort; to answer back sarcastically; to respond to criticism with ridicule
formalOriginally written as '反唇而相稽' in the Book of Han (《汉书·贾谊传》), where '稽' means to dispute or argue. This chengyu describes the act of responding to blame or criticism by turning one's lips (反唇) to mock or satirize the other party. It implies a defensive, confrontational attitude.
Tā他
shòu受
dào到
pī批
píng评
hòu后
bù不
dàn但
bú不
rèn认
cuò错
，
fǎn反
ér而
fǎn反
chún唇
xiāng相
jī讥
。
Instead of admitting his mistake after being criticized, he retorted sarcastically.
Miàn面
duì对
zhǐ指
zé责
，
tā他
fǎn反
chún唇
xiāng相
jī讥
，
ràng让
chǎng场
miàn面
shí十
fēn分
gān尴
gà尬
。
Faced with accusations, he answered back sarcastically, making the situation very awkward.
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Tā她
xí习
guàn惯
zài在
biàn辩
lùn论
zhōng中
fǎn反
chún唇
xiāng相
jī讥
，
hěn很
shǎo少
jiē接
shòu受
bié别
rén人
de的
yì意
jiàn见
。
She is accustomed to retorting sarcastically during debates and rarely accepts others' opinions.