呸！
bazza
September 18, 2007, 05:31 PM posted in General DiscussionKyle
September 19, 2007, 01:46 AMI hear it all the time as an "spitting" sound, but never as a boo. In fact, I've never had a Chinese try and scare me, or seen one try and scare another. So, I don't know what sound they'd try and make. Interesting question for someone else....
babliku
September 19, 2007, 06:14 AMThe only time I've ever heard this word used is in expressing utter disbelief/disgust when judging someone's moral standards or character. Like: 他这种人也会舍己为人？我呸！ (Having preconceived notions of someone's low moral standards) He's willing to sacrifice his interests for others? Ha! Actually in this example 我呸 has the cynicism/disgust of Ha without the um, "humour" aspect. It's kind of like "I spit on the ground on which you stand". Yeah, two cents.
bazza
September 21, 2007, 06:12 AMAmber, any input?
amber
September 21, 2007, 06:21 AMHi Bazza, Sorry I missed this question! In Chinese, the equivalent for 'boo' (to scare someone, etc.) is: 啊 (a) 嘿 (hèi) 呸 (pèi) is used differently. It is a lot stronger, and is used to express disgust or disapproval. It is quite impolite Connie says. Hope that helps! This could be a good Qing Wen topic I think (if you'll come back and listen to us again one day ;)
johnrash
September 21, 2007, 06:47 AMYou should check out the lesson on ONOMATOPOEIA.... http://chinesepod.com/learnchinese/chinese-onomatopoeia/discussion
bazza
September 21, 2007, 07:59 AMOops, I better apologise to my facebook friend then. lol
Lantian
September 22, 2007, 03:04 PM哈 with a fourth tone in my opinion also works well. People have said it to me as they sneak up behind me. ;) 呸 is just like the English "pihh" like one is spitting, in meanin g and tone. Or light joking/sarcasm with very close friends. Otherwise it is very strong. Almost like the English "F" word in my opinion if said in anger.
dan78cj5
September 18, 2007, 06:56 PMNever heard it, BUT, I am very curius about these kind of 'non-words' that are used as interjections before a sentance or particles at the end to express meaning (Is there an idea for a C-Pod lesson in here somewhere?). When watching Chinese TV shows there seams to be a much wider field than my vocabulary of 嘿，吗，呢，吧. On 呸 pei1, You have probably already hit a dictionary or two, but a quick scan of the Pleco-dict dictionaries gives a few pretty good examples of use. Still doesn't answer your Q though. From Pleco: ABC dictionary: 呸 pei1, interjection, pah, bah, pooh, ex: "呸，我才不希罕呢。 Oxford 汉英词典: 呸 pei1 (叹) pah, bah, pooh, ex: 呸，胡说八道！Bah, that's sheer nonsense. Unihan: 呸 Pei1 an expression of reprimand CEDICT: 呸 pei1 to spit (in contempt) ADSOTRANS: 呸 pei1, boo OK, so that's just a dictionary, maybe someone who has heard/used this can give us a feel for it.