zi1齜龇
Jyutpingzi1
Yalejī
Definition
To bare one's teeth.
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
Primarily used in the set phrase 齜牙咧嘴 to describe a menacing or aggressive facial expression. While it can literally mean to show teeth, it is rarely used as a standalone verb in daily speech outside of this specific idiom. It carries a strong connotation of hostility or intense pain.
Examples
He bares his teeth whenever he gets angry, it's quite scary.
Related words
Common phrases
to bare one's teeth and look ferocious
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general word for smiling or laughing, but it specifically refers to an aggressive or pained baring of teeth, not a friendly smile.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
