Meanings of 恿
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About 恿
Podcast: 恿
Podcast: 恿
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AI study notes for 恿
煽 (shān) - use 恿 when the focus is on instigating someone to act, while煽 emphasizes inciting emotions or feelings.
Learners often confuse 恿 with similar-sounding characters; remember that 恿 specifically implies incitement, not just encouragement. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, especially in discussions about negative influences. Pay attention to tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
Though 恿 is not part of the official HSK levels, it can be linked to higher-level vocabulary relating to persuasion or manipulation. Focus on context when using this word, especially in understanding its nuances in conversations about social dynamics or conflict.
Learners might mistakenly use 恿 in formal contexts where it doesn't fit due to its informal and negative connotation. For instance, saying '我恿他去参加比赛' (I instigated him to participate in the competition) sounds inappropriate; a better choice would be '我鼓励他去参加比赛' (I encouraged him to participate in the competition).
Pronunciation of 恿
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Etymology of 恿
Phonosemantic compound. 心 represents the meaning and 甬 represents the sound. Simplified form of 惥.
heart
Origin
恿 = 心 + 甬. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 恿
Parts
Which of these is part of 恿?
How to say to instigate, to incite, to alarm in Chinese
“to instigate, to incite, to alarm” in Chinese is恿
The character 恿 (yǒng) means to instigate or incite someone, often to urge them towards an action, which can sometimes have a negative connotation. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is being encouraged to do something reckless or harmful, reflecting a sense of provocation. This character can also imply alarm or urgency in certain situations.
When to use 恿
Learners often confuse 恿 with similar-sounding characters; remember that 恿 specifically implies incitement, not just encouragement. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, especially in discussions about negative influences. Pay attention to tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
恿 or something close to it
煽 (shān) - use 恿 when the focus is on instigating someone to act, while煽 emphasizes inciting emotions or feelings.
What learners get wrong
Learners might mistakenly use 恿 in formal contexts where it doesn't fit due to its informal and negative connotation. For instance, saying '我恿他去参加比赛' (I instigated him to participate in the competition) sounds inappropriate; a better choice would be '我鼓励他去参加比赛' (I encouraged him to participate in the competition).
Write 恿
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Practice writing 恿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 恿
恿 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.
谁怂____他吸毒的?
Who encouraged his taking drugs?
Example sentences for 恿 (2)
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Rebuild it: “Who encouraged his taking drugs?”
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Word Family of 恿
Words with 恿
What does 怂恿 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 恿
Some synonyms include 煽动 (shāndòng), which means to incite or stir up, and 鼓动 (gǔdòng), which means to encourage or urge.
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