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偬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
zǒngbusy, hurried; urgentx, 11 strokes, radical 亻, Very Hard
zǒngdespondentunknown, 11 strokes, radical 亻, Very Hard
zǒng(zong3) T3
  1. 1busy, hurried; urgent
  2. 2despondent
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(傯)zǒng(zong3)

The character 偬 (zǒng) conveys a sense of busyness or urgency. It can describe situations where someone is hurried or overwhelmed with tasks. Additionally, it has a nuanced meaning that can express feelings of despondence or being overwhelmed in a negative way.

Strokes11RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being busy is often seen as a sign of hard work and dedication, reflecting societal values around productivity. The pressures of modern life can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed, which this character encapsulates.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person juggling a multitude of tasks, looking busy and hurried. The radical 亻(meaning 'person') combined with the components suggests a person who is constantly on the move, embodying the essence of being overwhelmed and busy.

Meanings of 偬

zǒng(zong3)
1busy, hurried; urgent
2despondent
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 偬

Simplified
Traditional
11Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 偬

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 偬

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person juggling a multitude of tasks, looking busy and hurried. The radical 亻(meaning 'person') combined with the components suggests a person who is constantly on the move, embodying the essence of being overwhelmed and busy.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context when using 偬, as it can imply both urgency and negative stress. It is more commonly used in informal contexts. Watch out for tone differences; using the wrong tone can alter the meaning significantly.

HSK Study Tips

Since 偬 is not included in standard HSK lists, students should focus on recognizing this character as a compound of simpler components. It relates to other characters indicating busyness or urgency, which can enhance vocabulary on daily activities.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being busy is often seen as a sign of hard work and dedication, reflecting societal values around productivity. The pressures of modern life can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed, which this character encapsulates.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 偬 with similar characters like 忙 (máng), which means busy but without the negative connotation. For example, saying '我今天很忙' (I am very busy today) is correct, but using 偬 in that context may sound odd.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 偬

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Etymology of 偬

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Someone 亻 in a rush 怱; 怱 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 偬?

Decomposition of 偬

IDS Structure⿰亻怱
Full Character
=
ren2
left
cong1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 偬?

Write 偬

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 偬

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, being busy is often seen as a sign of hard work and dedication, reflecting societal values around productivity. The pressures of modern life can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed, which this character encapsulates.

Word Family of 偬

Words Containing This Character2
zǒngbusy
倥偬pressing倥傯
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 偬 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 偬

No, it is not frequently used in common speech but may appear in literary or formal contexts.