Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
搞笑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
搞笑gǎoxiàofunnyHSK 7, unknown, 23 strokes, Very Hard
搞笑gǎoxiàohilariousHSK 7, unknown, 23 strokes, Very Hard
gǎoxiào(gao3xiao4) T3
  1. 1funny
  2. 2hilarious
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

搞笑gǎoxiào(gao3xiao4)

搞笑 (gǎo xiào) means 'funny' or 'hilarious' and is commonly used to describe something that provokes laughter or amusement. It can refer to jokes, situations, or performances that are entertaining and light-hearted.

Strokes23DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, humor often revolves around wordplay and puns, which can make 搞笑 particularly relatable during festivals or entertainment shows like Spring Festival Gala, where comedic skits are a highlight.

Memory Tip

Think of 搞 (gǎo) as 'to do' and 笑 (xiào) as 'to laugh.' Imagine someone doing something silly to make others laugh—a playful scene that helps you remember that 搞笑 is all about creating humor.

Meanings of 搞笑

gǎoxiào(gao3xiao4)
1funny
2hilarious
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 搞笑 means.

About 搞笑

搞笑Simplified
23Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 搞笑

JasonAmy

Podcast: 搞笑

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 搞笑

Quick Contrast

搞笑 (gǎoxiào) vs 幽默 (yōumò) — use 搞笑 for something overtly funny or hilarious, while 幽默 implies a more subtle or sophisticated sense of humor.

Usage Notes

搞笑 is an informal term often used in casual conversations or social media. Be cautious not to use it in overly formal contexts; phrases like '幽默' (yōu mò) are more appropriate. Remember that the tone is critical; it should be pronounced with the third tone followed by the fourth tone.

HSK Study Tips

While 搞笑 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it is relevant for learners at HSK 3 and above due to its conversational nature. Focus on the context of humor in dialogues and practice using it in sentences about funny experiences.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 搞笑 by placing it in formal contexts, such as business emails. Instead, use it in casual conversations. For example, saying '这篇文章很搞笑' (This article is very funny) is correct, but saying '这份报告搞笑' (This report is funny) is inappropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 搞笑

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 搞笑 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 搞笑 to You

Let me explain 搞笑 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 搞笑 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Component Characters

搞gǎoto do
HSK 513 strokes扌
View full entry
笑xiàoto smile, to laugh; to giggle; to snicker
HSK 210 strokes⺮
View full entry

How to say funny in Chinese

“funny” in Chinese is搞笑gǎoxiào

搞笑 (gǎo xiào) means 'funny' or 'hilarious' and is commonly used to describe something that provokes laughter or amusement. It can refer to jokes, situations, or performances that are entertaining and light-hearted.

When to use 搞笑

搞笑 is an informal term often used in casual conversations or social media. Be cautious not to use it in overly formal contexts; phrases like '幽默' (yōu mò) are more appropriate. Remember that the tone is critical; it should be pronounced with the third tone followed by the fourth tone.

搞笑 or something close to it

搞笑 (gǎoxiào) vs 幽默 (yōumò) — use 搞笑 for something overtly funny or hilarious, while 幽默 implies a more subtle or sophisticated sense of humor.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 搞笑 by placing it in formal contexts, such as business emails. Instead, use it in casual conversations. For example, saying '这篇文章很搞笑' (This article is very funny) is correct, but saying '这份报告搞笑' (This report is funny) is inappropriate.

Write 搞笑

搞
笑

Practice writing 搞笑 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 搞笑?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Frequently Asked Questions about 搞笑

Yes, you can describe someone as 搞笑 if they have a humorous personality or often make others laugh.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 搞笑?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.