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嗵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
嗵tōngonomatopoetico, 13 strokes, radical 口, rank #40332, Very Hard
嗵tōng(onom.)thumpunknown, 13 strokes, radical 口, rank #40332, Very Hard
嗵tōngthudunknown, 13 strokes, radical 口, rank #40332, Very Hard
tōng(tong1)tong T1
  1. 1onomatopoetic
  2. 2(onom.)thump
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March 24, 2026

嗵tōng(tong1)

The character 嗵 (tōng) is an onomatopoeic word that describes the sound of a thump or thud, often used to convey a heavy impact or a sudden noise. It is commonly found in narratives or descriptive contexts, particularly in literature or storytelling, to evoke the sound effects associated with impacts or falls.

Strokes13Radical口Frequency#40332DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese literature, sound plays a vital role in setting the scene and creating atmosphere. The use of onomatopoeic words like 嗵 can enrich storytelling, highlighting the dramatic effects of actions and events, similar to sound effects in films.

Memory tip

Imagine a large drum that you hit with a stick, producing a loud 'tōng' sound that echoes. The character 嗵 contains the radical for sound (口) at the bottom, suggesting that it relates to noise. Picture the drum thumping and the sound reverberating through the air to help remember its meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 嗵

tōng(tong1)
1onomatopoetic
2(onom.)thump
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 嗵

嗵Simplified
13Strokes
口Radical
拟声词onomatopoeia (onom.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 嗵

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Podcast: 嗵

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AI study notes for 嗵

Usage Notes

When using 嗵, it's important to note that it is primarily used in informal contexts, often in written narratives. A common mistake is to use it in a formal setting where more standard vocabulary would be appropriate. Be cautious with tone pronunciation, as a mispronunciation can lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 嗵 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be useful for learners interested in expanding their descriptive language skills. Focus on recognizing this word within literary texts and practice using it in creative writing to enhance your expressive capabilities.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 嗵 with similar-sounding words that describe different sounds. For example, using 嗵 when they mean to say 响 (xiǎng) for 'ring' or 'sound' is incorrect. Always check the context to ensure you're using the correct onomatopoeic term.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 嗵

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Etymology of 嗵

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

mouth

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

Origin

嗵 = 口 + 通. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 嗵

IDS Structure⿰口通
嗵Full character
=
口kou3
left
通tong1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 嗵?

How to say onomatopoetic in Chinese

“onomatopoetic” in Chinese is嗵tōng

The character 嗵 (tōng) is an onomatopoeic word that describes the sound of a thump or thud, often used to convey a heavy impact or a sudden noise. It is commonly found in narratives or descriptive contexts, particularly in literature or storytelling, to evoke the sound effects associated with impacts or falls.

When to use 嗵

When using 嗵, it's important to note that it is primarily used in informal contexts, often in written narratives. A common mistake is to use it in a formal setting where more standard vocabulary would be appropriate. Be cautious with tone pronunciation, as a mispronunciation can lead to confusion with other words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 嗵 with similar-sounding words that describe different sounds. For example, using 嗵 when they mean to say 响 (xiǎng) for 'ring' or 'sound' is incorrect. Always check the context to ensure you're using the correct onomatopoeic term.

Write 嗵

嗵

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

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Grammar patterns of 嗵

嗵 functions as an onomatopoeic word — it imitates a sound. It often functions as an adverbial or stand-alone exclamation rather than a true verb or noun. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

小鸭子扑____扑嗵跳入水中.

The ducklings plumped into the water.

Example sentences for 嗵 (1)

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1
小鸭子扑嗵扑嗵跳入水中.

xiǎo yāzi pū tōng pū tōng tiào rù shuǐ zhōng.

The ducklings plumped into the water.

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Word Family of 嗵

Words containing this character1
嗵tōngthud

Frequently asked questions about 嗵

No, 嗵 is more commonly found in written forms, especially in literature or storytelling, rather than in casual spoken Chinese.

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