click one's tongue; smack one's lips (in admiration, surprise, regret, etc.)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to click one's tongue; to smack one's lips (expressing praise, envy, surprise, embarrassment, regret, etc.)
The sound is produced by suction between the tongue and the hard palate. Often used with the -er suffix (咂嘴儿) in colloquial speech. The specific emotion conveyed depends on context and facial expression.
Tā他
kàn看
zhe着
nà那
fú幅
míng名
huà画
，
bù不
jīn禁
zā咂
zuǐ嘴
zàn赞
tàn叹
。
He looked at that famous painting and couldn't help clicking his tongue in admiration.
Tīng听
dào到
zhè这
gè个
huài坏
xiāo消
xi息
，
tā他
zā咂
le了
zā咂
zuǐ嘴
，
xiǎn显
de得
shí十
fēn分
wéi为
nán难
。
Hearing this bad news, he smacked his lips, looking very embarrassed.
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Lǎo老
tài太
tai太
zā咂
zuǐr嘴
biǎo儿
shì表
wǎn示
xī惋
惜
。
The old lady clicked her tongue to express regret.
Kàn看
dào到
zhè这
me么
guì贵
de的
jià价
qian钱
，
tā他
zhí直
zā咂
zuǐ嘴
。
Seeing such an expensive price, he kept clicking his tongue.