(kě xiào) - ridiculous, laughable, absurd in Mandarin
kěxiàoTraditional: 可笑
Translation
ridiculous, laughable, absurd
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Word origin
A compound of 可 (kě, worth, -able) and 笑 (xiào, to laugh), on the same pattern as 可怕 and 可爱: literally worth laughing at.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 可 (kě, worth, -able) + 笑 (xiào, to laugh)
Stroke order
可
笑
Examples
。
That reason is ridiculous.
。
I must have looked ridiculous at the time.
。
What he said was laughable and frightening at once.
。
Do not bring that ridiculous business up again.
。
That way of thinking looks absurd today.
可笑 (kě xiào) is the laughter that comes with contempt. A reason nobody believes, an excuse that falls apart, a rule that made sense in 1950 and none at all now: all 可笑.
It joins the 可 family, where 可怕 is frightening, 可爱 is lovable and 可惜 is a pity. Each one means worth being on the receiving end of that reaction, and 可笑 means worth being laughed at.
The trap is mistaking it for funny. A comedian is not 可笑, and telling a friend their joke was 可笑 says the joke was pathetic. For amusing use 好笑 or 有意思, and save 可笑 for when you want the sneer.
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Mandarin · Free printables
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Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "可笑" (ridiculous, laughable, absurd): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free week (no card)This word is taught in chapter 31, lesson 10: 可笑, 下雨, 姓 and 7 more words.