笑话 xiào hua
“joke; jest; to laugh at; to mock”
nounHSK 4 · 2021 list level 2Traditional 笑話Measure word 个
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
笑话 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 1816: 笑话 xiàohua — Level 4; official annotation 4 (名、动). PDF page 125
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 笑话
笑话 most commonly means “joke”: a funny story or remark. As a noun it is often used with 讲 (讲一个笑话, 讲笑话), and you can comment on one with 这个笑话很好笑. It is also a verb meaning “to laugh at; to mock,” as in 别笑话我.
例句Example sentences
- 他给我们讲了一个笑话。tā gěi wǒ men jiǎng le yí gè xiào huà.He told us a joke.
- 这个笑话真好笑，大家都笑了。zhè ge xiào huà zhēn hǎo xiào, dà jiā dōu xiào le.This joke is really funny; everyone laughed.
- 我说错了，你们别笑话我。wǒ shuō cuò le, nǐ men bié xiào huà wǒ.I said it wrong; don't laugh at me.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗这个笑话很笑。
✓这个笑话很好笑。
笑话 is a noun; use 好笑 to mean "funny."
易混词Easily confused
笑话vs玩笑
玩笑 is a joke seen as a playful act, used mainly in 开玩笑 (to joke around) and phrases like 这个玩笑开得太过分了; unlike 笑话, it is not used with 讲 to mean "tell a joke."