不齿

不齒

bùchǐ

verb #26,534

Meanings

1 to despise
2 to hold in contempt
3 to disdain

Characters

teeth / to be listed / to be counted among

Examples

这种背信弃义的行为令人不齿。

Zhèzhǒng bèixìnqìyì de xíngwéi lìngrén bùchǐ.

This kind of treacherous behavior is held in contempt by all.

他为人所不齿，没有朋友。

Tā wéirén suǒ bùchǐ, méiyǒu péngyou.

He is despised by people and has no friends.

Tips

memory

不 (not) + 齿 (teeth/to list among). In classical Chinese, 齿 meant to be listed or counted among a group. 不齿 = not to be counted among decent people — hence despised or beneath contempt.

Stroke Order

不 bù

齿 chǐ