How to Write 怼 (duì) — Meaning “To roast; to call out; to attack verbally”

Think of the sound 'duì' like 'doe' and imagine a deer with a heart-shaped target on its chest. You roast the deer by shooting verbal arrows (the two dots in 对 look like arrow tips) straight at its heart.

The top part 对 should be wide and balanced, with the left-falling stroke starting high. The bottom 心 must be centered under 对 and slightly narrower; a common mistake is making the heart too small or tilting it to one side. Stroke order: write 对 first (4 strokes), then add 心 (4 strokes) — total 9 strokes according to standard lists.

忌 (jì) means 'to envy' or 'to avoid'; it has 己 (self) above 心, showing a selfish heart. 忍 (rěn) means 'to endure'; it has 刃 (blade) above 心, suggesting a heart that bears pain. 怼 has 对 (opposite) above 心, so it means a confrontational heart that attacks back.

怼 is very informal internet slang, used to describe roasting, calling out, or verbally attacking someone in arguments or playful banter. You might see phrases like 怼人 (to roast someone) or 互怼 (to bicker back and forth). It is not used in formal writing and is especially popular on Chinese social media platforms.

Common words containing 怼 include: 怼人 (duì rén) — To roast someone; to call someone out; 互怼 (hù duì) — To bicker with or roast each other.; 怼回去 (duì huí qù) — To roast back; to talk back.