ci1嗤

Jyutpingci1

Yalechī

Uncommon

Definition

To laugh at, scoff at, or make a sound of snorting or sneezing.

to laugh at; to sneer or scoff at
to sneeze or snort

writtenemotioncommunication

How it's used

Primarily used in formal or literary contexts to describe a mocking laugh or a look of disdain. It is rarely used in everyday spoken Cantonese to mean a sneeze, as that is almost exclusively expressed by the word 乞嗤. When used in speech, it often appears in the set phrase 嗤之以鼻 to express strong contempt.

Examples

keoi5佢gin3見dou2到jan4人dei6哋dit3跌dou2倒zau6就。

He scoffed when he saw someone fall down.

nei5你zou6做me1咩ci1嗤zi1之ji5以bei6鼻aa4呀？

Why are you turning your nose up at it?

Common phrases

ci1嗤zi1之ji5以bei6鼻

to turn one's nose up at something

to scoff or mock

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 乞嗤, which is the standard colloquial term for a sneeze. Using 嗤 to describe a physical sneeze will sound very unnatural or confusing to native speakers.