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March 24, 2026
怒nù(nu4)
The character 怒 (nù) primarily means 'anger' or 'fury'. It conveys intense emotions related to displeasure or rage, often used in contexts where someone is expressing strong feelings of frustration or irritation. Additionally, it can imply a sense of vigorousness or flourishing in certain phrases.
Strokes9Radical心Frequency#5358DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing anger publicly is often seen as a loss of face, making the concept of anger more complex. The character can be used in literature and art to depict intense emotions, reflecting the value placed on emotional control.
Memory Tip
Imagine someone with a face twisted in anger, their brows furrowed like a stormy sky. The character 怒 combines the radical for 'heart' (心) and 'anger' (怒) which can remind you that anger often comes from the heart. Picture a heart that is boiling over with emotions, leading to the sound 'nù'.
Meanings of 怒
nù(nu4)
1anger
2fury
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 怒
怒Simplified
9Strokes
心Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#5358Frequency Rank
Podcast: 怒
Podcast: 怒
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AI Study Notes for 怒
Quick Contrast
愤怒 (fèn nù) vs 生气 (shēng qì) — use 怒 for more intense or formal expressions of anger, while 生气 is more casual.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 怒; it is pronounced with a falling tone (nù). It is often used in more serious or formal contexts when discussing emotions, rather than casual conversations. Phrases like '愤怒' (fènnù) or '怒火' (nùhuǒ) can help in expanding vocabulary related to anger.
HSK Study Tips
Though 怒 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it's relevant for learners at HSK 4 and above, especially when discussing emotions. Students should focus on using it in context, such as in sentences expressing feelings to strengthen their understanding and usage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 怒 (nù) with 愤 (fèn), which also means 'anger' but has a slightly different connotation. For example, saying '我很愤' is incorrect; instead, use '我很愤怒' (wǒ hěn fènnù) for clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 怒
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How Well Do You Know 怒?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 怒 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.
怒 = 心 + 奴. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 怒
IDS Structure⿱奴心
怒Full Character
=
奴nu2
top
心xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 怒?
How to say anger in Chinese
“anger” in Chinese is怒nù
The character 怒 (nù) primarily means 'anger' or 'fury'. It conveys intense emotions related to displeasure or rage, often used in contexts where someone is expressing strong feelings of frustration or irritation. Additionally, it can imply a sense of vigorousness or flourishing in certain phrases.
When to use 怒
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 怒; it is pronounced with a falling tone (nù). It is often used in more serious or formal contexts when discussing emotions, rather than casual conversations. Phrases like '愤怒' (fènnù) or '怒火' (nùhuǒ) can help in expanding vocabulary related to anger.
怒 or something close to it
愤怒 (fèn nù) vs 生气 (shēng qì) — use 怒 for more intense or formal expressions of anger, while 生气 is more casual.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 怒 (nù) with 愤 (fèn), which also means 'anger' but has a slightly different connotation. For example, saying '我很愤' is incorrect; instead, use '我很愤怒' (wǒ hěn fènnù) for clarity.
Write 怒
怒
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Grammar Patterns of 怒
怒 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 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.
