耍 shuǎ to play
to play; to frolic; to amuse; to play with; to act
How to remember 耍: 而 and yet + 女 woman = to play. It is late and yet the woman still gets down on the carpet with her twins, happy to play them.
Component breakdown
耍 = 而 and yet + 女 woman
- 而 and yet
- 女 woman
It is late and yet the woman still gets down on the carpet with her twins, happy to play them.
How it is used
- "To play" but usually with a negative or manipulative edge - 耍花招 (shuǎ huāzhāo) to play tricks, 耍赖 (shuǎlài) to welch/act shamelessly, 耍脾气 (shuǎ píqi) to throw a tantrum, 耍猴 (shuǎ hóu) to make a monkey of.
- Contrast neutral 玩 (wán) "play/have fun": 玩耍 (wánshuǎ) is innocent romping, but 耍 alone often means messing someone around.