开玩笑
kāiwánxiào
The English verb "josh" can be translated into Chinese as 开玩笑 (kāiwánxiào).
The phrase 开玩笑 is a transitive verb that can mean both "to tell a joke" and "to tease someone" in a kindly fashion, depending on the context.
Meaning: (transitive) To tease someone in a kindly fashion (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb 开 (to open/start) and 玩笑 (a joke).
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'You are joking!' or 'You're kidding!', you can say 你在开玩笑 (Nǐ zài kāiwánxiào).
How do you pronounce it?
kāiwánxiào
Did you know?
- In formal or literary Chinese, the concept of 'joshing' can be expressed through the phrase 打趣, where 打 literally means 'to hit'. This suggests a metaphorical 'striking' of the person being teased.
- While 开玩笑 means to joke, the word 开 can also mean to drive a car or operate a machine. In Chinese, the act of starting a joke is conceptually similar to starting an engine or opening a shop.
- In internet slang, instead of using the full phrase 开玩笑, users often use the character 哈 (hā) or other onomatopoeic sounds to signal that a previous statement was just a joke.
Examples in context
- 我只是在跟你开玩笑。Wǒ zhǐshì zài gēn nǐ kāiwánxiào.I am just joking with you.
- 别生气，他是在开玩笑。Bié shēngqì, tā shì zài kāiwánxiào.Don't be angry, he is just joking.
- 他在开玩笑，你别当真。Tā zài kāiwánxiào, nǐ bié dàngzhēn.He is joking, don't take it seriously.
Example conversation
Two friends are chatting at a coffee shop.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen志强，你是在开玩笑吗？Zhìqiáng, nǐ shì zài kāiwánxiào ma?Zhiqiang, are you joking?
- 志强 Zhiqiang没有，我说真的。Méiyǒu, wǒ shuō zhēn de.No, I am serious.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我还以为你在开玩笑呢。Wǒ hái yǐwéi nǐ zài kāiwánxiào ne.I thought you were just joking.
- 志强 Zhiqiang晓雯，我从不开这种玩笑。Xiǎowén, wǒ cóng bù kāi zhè zhǒng wánxiào.Xiaowen, I never joke like that.
