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劾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
to look into; to impeach, to chargeg, 8 strokes, radical 力, Very Hard
(he2) T2
  1. 1to look into; to impeach, to charge
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March 24, 2026
(he2)

The character 劾 (hé) primarily means to look into or investigate, particularly in the context of legal or formal settings. It also conveys the idea of impeaching or charging someone, often used when discussing accountability or misconduct in governance or administration.

Strokes8RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese history, the concept of impeachment is significant, particularly during the imperial examination system where officials could be held accountable for their actions. This reflects the value placed on integrity and responsibility in governance.

Memory Tip

Imagine a judge with a large magnifying glass (the radical for investigation) examining a case closely. The sound 'hé' can be remembered by associating it with 'hey,' as if calling attention to something important that needs to be looked into.

Meanings of 劾

(he2)
1to look into; to impeach, to charge
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 劾

Simplified
8Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 劾

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AI Study Notes for 劾

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a judge with a large magnifying glass (the radical for investigation) examining a case closely. The sound 'hé' can be remembered by associating it with 'hey,' as if calling attention to something important that needs to be looked into.

Usage Notes

This character is primarily used in formal contexts, especially in legal or governmental discussions. A common mistake is using it in informal conversations where simpler terms would suffice. Make sure to use the correct tone; 劾 is pronounced with a rising tone, which can change the meaning if mispronounced.

HSK Study Tips

Although 劾 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other legal and administrative terms. Students at a similar level should be familiar with words related to governance and accountability, focusing on understanding their applications in context.

Cultural Note

In Chinese history, the concept of impeachment is significant, particularly during the imperial examination system where officials could be held accountable for their actions. This reflects the value placed on integrity and responsibility in governance.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 劾 with similar-sounding characters, such as 赫 (hè), which means glorious or bright. It's important to remember that 劾 specifically pertains to investigation and impeachment, while 赫 has a completely different meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 劾

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Etymology of 劾

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 力 represents the meaning and 亥 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

strength

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 劾?

Decomposition of 劾

IDS Structure⿰亥力
Full Character
=
hai4
left
Li4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 劾?

Write 劾

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

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Cultural Notes for 劾

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese history, the concept of impeachment is significant, particularly during the imperial examination system where officials could be held accountable for their actions. This reflects the value placed on integrity and responsibility in governance.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

Unlike in many Western systems where impeachment may be a highly publicized political process, in Chinese culture, the focus is often on internal administrative accountability and maintaining harmony within the governmental structure.

Word Family of 劾

Words Containing This Character3
弹劾to impeach彈劾
to impeach
参劾to accuse參劾
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 弹劾 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 劾

You can say 他们决定对他进行劾责 (tāmen juédìng duì tā jìnxíng hézé), meaning 'They decided to impeach him.'