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March 24, 2026
嘘(噓)xū(xu1)
The character 嘘 (xū) primarily means to exhale, hiss, or express a quieting sound, often used to ask someone to be quiet. It can also convey a sense of admiration or praise in certain contexts, like when giving a gentle sigh of appreciation. This character is frequently encountered in informal settings.
Strokes14Radical口Frequency#1322DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being quiet in certain social settings is highly valued, and the use of 嘘 reflects the importance of maintaining harmony and respect during gatherings. It embodies the cultural emphasis on collective behavior over individual expression.
Memory Tip
Imagine you're at a quiet gathering and someone whispers '嘘' (xū) to hush the crowd. The two dots on the top of the character can remind you of a person putting a finger to their lips to signal silence, while the mouth component (口) emphasizes the act of exhaling softly.
Meanings of 嘘
xū(xu1)
1to blow, to exhale, to hiss, to sigh; to praise
2to exhale slowly
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 嘘
嘘Simplified
噓Traditional
14Strokes
口Radical
叹词tàncíinterjection (interj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嘘
Podcast: 嘘
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AI Study Notes for 嘘
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine you're at a quiet gathering and someone whispers '嘘' (xū) to hush the crowd. The two dots on the top of the character can remind you of a person putting a finger to their lips to signal silence, while the mouth component (口) emphasizes the act of exhaling softly.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 嘘 with similar-sounding words. Remember that 嘘 is informal and typically used in casual conversation or when asking for silence. It collocates with words like '安静' (ānjìng, quiet) and can be used in phrases like '嘘，安静点' (xū, ānjìng diǎn, hush, be quiet).
HSK Study Tips
Although 嘘 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, understanding it can enrich your conversational skills at HSK Level 2. Focus on its pronunciation and context, and try to use it when practicing phrases related to quietness or admiration.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being quiet in certain social settings is highly valued, and the use of 嘘 reflects the importance of maintaining harmony and respect during gatherings. It embodies the cultural emphasis on collective behavior over individual expression.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 嘘 with the word '吁' (yū), which means to sigh loudly. For example, saying '我嘘了' (wǒ xū le) incorrectly suggests you exhaled loudly instead of softly asking for silence; it should be used in contexts of quieting someone.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嘘
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Grammar Patterns of 嘘
嘘 functions as an interjection — a standalone exclamation. It typically opens the sentence (啊！哎呀！) and is set off by a pause or comma. 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 4
Complete the Sentence
____！他来了。我一会儿再跟你说。
Shush! Here he comes. I'll talk to you later.
Example Sentences for 嘘 (10)
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1
嘘！他来了。我一会儿再跟你说。
xū！ ！ tā lái。 le 。 wǒ yī huì ér zài gēn。
Shush! Here he comes. I'll talk to you later.
2
我真蠢，居然被他的胡乱吹嘘给蒙蔽了。
wǒ zhēn chǔn， ， jū rán bèi tā de hú luàn chuī xū gěi mēng bì。
I'd been a fool letting him snow me with his big ideas.
3
好莱坞的摄影师们有足够的理由可以自我吹嘘。
hǎo lái wù de shè yǐng shī mén yǒu zú gòu de lǐ yóu kě yǐ zì wǒ chuī xū。
Hollywood cameramen have good reason to blow their own trumpets.
4
他的坦白引起了人们嘲讽的嘘叫。
tā de tǎn bái yǐn qǐ le rén mén cháo fěng de xū jiào。
After a moment the barracking began. First came hisses, then shouts.
7
嘘！你到底想不想听啊？
xū！ ！ nǐ dào dǐ xiǎng bù xiǎng tīng？
Sh! You want to listen or don't you?
8
他刚开始歌唱时有人发出了很大的嘘声.
tā gāng kāi shǐ gē chàng shí yǒu rén fā chū le hěn dà de xū shēng.
There were loud groans when he started to sing.
9
迎接她的是一片嘘声.
yíng jiē tā de shì yī piàn xū shēng.
She was greeted with boos and hisses.
10
不是我吹嘘，我确实能讲六种语言。
bù shì wǒ chuī xū， ， wǒ què shí néng jiǎng liù zhǒng yǔ。
I don't want to boast, but I can actually speak six languages.
Cultural Notes for 嘘
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being quiet in certain social settings is highly valued, and the use of 嘘 reflects the importance of maintaining harmony and respect during gatherings. It embodies the cultural emphasis on collective behavior over individual expression.
Word Family of 嘘
Words Containing This Character8
嘘xūto hiss噓
吹嘘to brag吹噓
唏嘘to sob唏噓
嘘声hissing sound噓聲
嘘寒问暖to pamper噓寒問暖
嘘嘘to pee pee (kiddie or feminine slang)噓噓
自我吹嘘to blow one's own horn (idiom)自我吹噓
喘嘘嘘to puff and blow喘噓噓
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 嘘 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嘘
It is pronounced as 'xū', with a high-level tone.
No, 嘘 is typically used in informal contexts; it's not suitable for formal conversations.
嘘 specifically conveys a gentle request for quiet, while other words might be more direct or forceful.
