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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#13976DifficultyVery Hard
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.
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.
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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How Well Do You Know 惧?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 惧 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.
惧 = 忄 + 具. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 惧
IDS Structure⿰忄具
惧Full Character
=
忄xin1
left
具ju4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 惧?
How to say to fear in Chinese
“to fear” in Chinese is惧jù
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.
When to use 惧
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.
惧 or something close to it
惧 (jù) vs 怕 (pà) — use 惧 for a stronger sense of dread compared to 怕, which conveys a more general fear.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 惧
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.
