Meanings of 唬
By ear
Play it, then pick what 唬 means.
About 唬
Podcast: 唬
Podcast: 唬
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 唬
威 (wēi) vs 恐 (kǒng) — choose 唬 (hǔ) when emphasizing intimidation through loudness or fierceness, while 威 (wēi) focuses on authority and power, and 恐 (kǒng) conveys fear itself.
Be careful not to confuse 唬 with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. It is generally used in informal contexts, so avoid using it in formal writing. Common collocations include phrases like 唬人 (hǔ rén - to intimidate someone) or 唬住 (hǔ zhù - to scare into submission).
Although 唬 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it relates to vocabulary around emotions and actions that convey fear. Students at this level should focus on recognizing the character and understanding its usage in everyday conversation.
Learners often confuse 唬 with the character 胡 (hú), which means 'nonsensical' or 'reckless'. For example, saying '他很胡我' (Tā hěn hú wǒ) instead of '他在唬我' (Tā zài hǔ wǒ) would be incorrect.
Pronunciation of 唬
Drill the tone of 唬, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 唬 to you
Let me explain 唬 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 唬 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 唬?
Learning Lab
Knowing 唬 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Etymology of 唬
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 虎 represents the sound.
mouth
Origin
唬 = 口 + 虎. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 唬
Parts
Which of these is part of 唬?
How to say to intimidate; to scare in Chinese
“to intimidate; to scare” in Chinese is唬
The character 唬 (hǔ) means to intimidate or scare someone, often through a loud or fierce action. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is trying to instill fear or assert dominance, such as in competitive situations or when telling stories about frightening experiences.
When to use 唬
Be careful not to confuse 唬 with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. It is generally used in informal contexts, so avoid using it in formal writing. Common collocations include phrases like 唬人 (hǔ rén - to intimidate someone) or 唬住 (hǔ zhù - to scare into submission).
唬 or something close to it
威 (wēi) vs 恐 (kǒng) — choose 唬 (hǔ) when emphasizing intimidation through loudness or fierceness, while 威 (wēi) focuses on authority and power, and 恐 (kǒng) conveys fear itself.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 唬 with the character 胡 (hú), which means 'nonsensical' or 'reckless'. For example, saying '他很胡我' (Tā hěn hú wǒ) instead of '他在唬我' (Tā zài hǔ wǒ) would be incorrect.
Write 唬
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 唬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 唬
唬 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
那其实是____人的话。
It was more of an idle threat than anything.
Example sentences for 唬 (2)
Rebuild it
Rebuild it: “It was more of an idle threat than anything.”
Ask Jason
Have a question about 唬?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Word Family of 唬
Words with 唬
What does 吓唬 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 唬
You can say '他用大声的喊叫来唬我' (Tā yòng dà shēng de hǎnjiào lái hǔ wǒ), meaning 'He scared me with a loud shout.'
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 唬?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.