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March 24, 2026
惧(懼)jù(ju4)
The character 惧 (jù) means 'to fear' or 'to dread.' It is commonly used in contexts where someone feels apprehension or anxiety about something, such as a situation, person, or event. This word conveys a stronger sense of fear, often associated with significant concern or dread.
Strokes11Radical忄Frequency#13976DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, fear is often linked to supernatural beliefs. For instance, many people express 惧 for spirits or ghosts, especially during the Ghost Festival, where respect for ancestors and the fear of the unknown come to the forefront.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person standing at the edge of a cliff, looking down with a jolt of fear. The character 惧 has the radical '忄' (heart) on the left, suggesting that fear is an emotional response of the heart. The right side is '句' (sentence), which could remind you of the saying, 'I fear what I cannot express in words.' Together, they symbolize the heart's reaction to frightening situations.
Meanings of 惧
jù(ju4)
1to fear
2to fear, to dread
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 惧
惧Simplified
懼Traditional
11Strokes
忄Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#13976Frequency Rank
Podcast: 惧
Podcast: 惧
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AI Study Notes for 惧
Quick Contrast
惧 (jù) vs 怕 (pà) — use 惧 for a stronger sense of dread compared to 怕, which conveys a more general fear.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person standing at the edge of a cliff, looking down with a jolt of fear. The character 惧 has the radical '忄' (heart) on the left, suggesting that fear is an emotional response of the heart. The right side is '句' (sentence), which could remind you of the saying, 'I fear what I cannot express in words.' Together, they symbolize the heart's reaction to frightening situations.
Usage Notes
Avoid confusing 惧 with lighter terms for fear like 害怕 (hàipà) or 担心 (dānxīn). 惧 is more formal and often used in literary or serious contexts. Be mindful of pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can change meaning; make sure to use the fourth tone correctly.
HSK Study Tips
Though not an HSK level word, 惧 connects with other emotional vocabulary like 恐惧 (kǒngjù – to be afraid) and 害怕 (hàipà – to be scared). Students should focus on understanding emotional nuances and tones in these related words to express fear accurately.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, fear is often linked to supernatural beliefs. For instance, many people express 惧 for spirits or ghosts, especially during the Ghost Festival, where respect for ancestors and the fear of the unknown come to the forefront.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 惧 in casual situations, where 害怕 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我惧这个考试' (Wǒ jù zhège kǎoshì – I fear this exam) sounds overly formal; '我害怕这个考试' (Wǒ hàipà zhège kǎoshì) is more natural.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 惧
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Grammar Patterns of 惧
惧 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 2 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.
When events happen that shake these beliefs, our fear takes control.
7
霍华德想成为流行歌手，但因怯场而心生畏惧。
huò huá dé xiǎng chéng wéi liú háng gē shǒu， ， dàn yīn qiè cháng ér xīn shēng wèi。
Howard wanted to be a popular singer, but stage fright crippled him.
8
我想我有点惧怕失败。
wǒ xiǎng wǒ yǒu diǎn jù pà shī bài。
In a way, I suppose I'm frightened of failing.
9
你会感到一种本能的恐惧而想要去逃避。
nǐ huì gǎn dào yī zhǒng běn néng de kǒng jù ér xiǎng yào qù táo bì。
You feel an animal panic to run and hide.
10
人们的无知会带来恐惧，对未知事物的恐惧。
rén mén de wú zhī huì dài lái kǒng jù， ， duì wèi zhī shì wù de kǒng。
Ignorance of people brings fear, fear of the unknown.
Cultural Notes for 惧
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, fear is often linked to supernatural beliefs. For instance, many people express 惧 for spirits or ghosts, especially during the Ghost Festival, where respect for ancestors and the fear of the unknown come to the forefront.
Word Family of 惧
Words Containing This Character10
恐惧kǒngjùfear恐懼
畏惧wèijùto fear畏懼
惧jùto fear懼
惧怕to be afraid懼怕
恐惧症phobia恐懼症
惊惧to be alarmed驚懼
疑惧misgivings疑懼
惧高症acrophobia懼高症
忧惧apprehension憂懼
危惧afraid危懼
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 恐惧 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 惧
惧 conveys a deeper sense of dread or fear, while 害怕 is a more general term for being scared.
It is typically used in more formal or literary contexts, so in casual conversation, 害怕 is more common.
You can find it in phrases like 惧怕 (jùpà – to fear) or 感到惧怕 (gǎndào jùpà – to feel fear).
