clicking of tongue; chirping
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesonomatopoeia
to click one's tongue (in admiration, wonder, or disapproval); sound of smacking lips
Often used in the phrases 啧啧称羡 (clicking tongue in admiration) and 人言啧啧 (people are talking about something, often with a tone of amazement or disapproval).
Rén人
men们
kàn看
dào到
nà那
fú幅
míng名
huà画
，
wú无
bù不
zé啧
zé啧
chēng称
xiàn羡
。
When people saw that famous painting, they all clicked their tongues in admiration.
Zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
nào闹
de得
fèi沸
fèi沸
yáng扬
yáng扬
，
rén人
yán言
zé啧
zé啧
。
This matter caused a huge uproar, with everyone talking about it in amazement.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Tā他
kàn看
zhe着
nà那
liàng辆
háo豪
chē车
，
zuǐ嘴
lǐ里
zé啧
zé啧
zuò作
xiǎng响
。
He looked at that luxury car, clicking his tongue in wonder.
onomatopoeia
chirping (sound of birds)
literaryLiterary usage, often found in classical or formal written Chinese.
Qīng清
chén晨
，
chuāng窗
wài外
què雀
shēng声
zé啧
zé啧
，
shí十
fēn分
yuě悦
ěr耳
。
In the early morning, the chirping of sparrows outside the window was very pleasant to hear.
Shù树
jiān间
zé啧
zé啧
，
yuán原
lái来
shì是
niǎo鸟
ér儿
zài在
míng鸣
jiào叫
。
The chirping from among the trees turned out to be birds singing.