talk back; retort; answer back
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to talk back; to retort; to answer back when scolded or criticized
informalTypically used in informal contexts. Often appears in negative constructions (e.g., 不还嘴) to indicate that someone accepts criticism without arguing back. The synonym 还口 is often used interchangeably.
Tā他
zì自
zhī知
lǐ理
kuī亏
，
wú无
lùn论
nǐ你
zěn怎
me么
shuō说
，
dōu都
bù不
huán还
zuǐ嘴
。
He knew he was in the wrong, so no matter what you said, he didn't talk back.
Hái孩
zi子
bù不
gāi该
gēn跟
fù父
mǔ母
huán还
zuǐ嘴
。
Children shouldn't talk back to their parents.
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Lǎo老
shī师
pī批
píng评
tā他
，
tā他
dī低
zhe着
tóu头
，
yī一
shēng声
bù不
kēng吭
，
bù不
gǎn敢
huán还
zuǐ嘴
。
When the teacher criticized him, he hung his head and didn't dare utter a sound, not daring to talk back.
Nǐ你
yào要
shì是
zài再
huán还
zuǐ嘴
，
wǒ我
jiù就
shēng生
qì气
le了
。
If you talk back again, I'll get angry.