How to Write 啧 (zé) — Meaning “To click one's tongue; tut-tut”

Picture a person (口, mouth) making a sharp clicking sound because they are dissatisfied with someone's 責 (responsibility or blame). You can think of 'A mouth that blames' — when you feel annoyed, you click your tongue with a 'zé' sound to show disapproval.

Pay close attention to the right side 責: the top is 龶 (a modified ‘生’ without the bottom horizontal) and the bottom is 貝 (shell/money). Stroke order on that side starts with horizontal, then vertical, then the left vertical, then the two horizontal strokes, then the left part of 貝, then the horizontal and vertical of 貝, then the two small strokes inside, and finally the bottom horizontal. The left 口 must be smaller and positioned higher, not too large.

啧 is commonly used in the reduplicated form 啧啧 to describe the sound of repeated tongue-clicking, either expressing admiration (e.g., 啧啧称奇 meaning 'to click one's tongue in wonder') or regret/disapproval (e.g., 啧舌 meaning 'to click one's tongue in surprise or regret'). It is an onomatopoeic word that appears in informal speech or written descriptions, and it often carries an emotional tone of mild criticism or impressed surprise.

Common words containing 啧 include: 啧啧 (zé zé) — Sound of clicking one's tongue (in admiration or clicking); 啧舌 (zé shé) — To click one's tongue (in surprise or regret); 啧啧称奇 (zé zé chēng qí) — To click one's tongue in wonder; to be filled with admiration.