耻笑
chǐ xiào · HSK 7
to sneer at sb
😏 chi = shame + xiao = laugh — a shameful laugh aimed at someone
耻 means shame or disgrace, 笑 means laugh. Together they form a laugh rooted in contempt — not joyful but mocking. The shame component tells you this laughter is meant to belittle.
笑 — bamboo radical 竹 (⺮) + 夭 (yāo, bending)
Originally written with the bamboo radical over 夭, depicting a person bending or swaying. One traditional reading is that bamboo bends in the wind like a person doubling over with laughter. The character has meant 'laugh, smile' since early times, with no major shift in meaning.