Meanings of 惻
By ear
Play it, then pick what 惻 means.
About 惻
Podcast: 惻
Podcast: 惻
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 惻
惋 (wǎn) - use 惻 (cè) when emphasizing deep sympathy or anguish, while 惋 (wǎn) conveys a sense of regret or sorrow.
When using 惻, it's important to pair it with contexts of emotional depth or literature, as it's less suitable for casual conversation. Be cautious with similar-sounding words like 厕 (cè, toilet) to avoid confusion. Common collocations include 惻隐之心 (cè yǐn zhī xīn), meaning 'the heart of sympathy'.
As 惻 is not included in HSK levels, focus on understanding its emotional depth and context rather than memorization. It connects to other words expressing feelings, such as 悲 (bēi, sorrow) and 同情 (tóngqíng, sympathy), enhancing your emotional vocabulary.
Learners often confuse 惻 with similar-sounding words, leading to phrases like 惻情 (cè qíng), which is incorrect. The correct usage would be 惻隐 (cè yǐn) to convey sympathy.
Pronunciation of 惻
Drill the tone of 惻, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 惻 to you
Let me explain 惻 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 惻 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 惻?
Learning Lab
Knowing 惻 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.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Etymology of 惻
Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 则 represents the sound. Simplified form of 惻.
heart
Origin
惻 = 忄 + 則. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 惻
Parts
Which of these is part of 惻?
How to say anguished; sympathetic in Chinese
“anguished; sympathetic” in Chinese is惻
The character 惻 (cè) conveys a sense of deep sympathy or anguish. It is often used to describe a feeling of compassion for someone else's suffering, highlighting an emotional response to their plight. This character is less common in everyday conversation but can be seen in literary contexts or discussions about emotional experiences.
When to use 惻
When using 惻, it's important to pair it with contexts of emotional depth or literature, as it's less suitable for casual conversation. Be cautious with similar-sounding words like 厕 (cè, toilet) to avoid confusion. Common collocations include 惻隐之心 (cè yǐn zhī xīn), meaning 'the heart of sympathy'.
惻 or something close to it
惋 (wǎn) - use 惻 (cè) when emphasizing deep sympathy or anguish, while 惋 (wǎn) conveys a sense of regret or sorrow.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 惻 with similar-sounding words, leading to phrases like 惻情 (cè qíng), which is incorrect. The correct usage would be 惻隐 (cè yǐn) to convey sympathy.
Write 惻
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 惻 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 惻?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Cultural Notes for 惻
While the concept of sympathy exists in Western cultures, the depth of emotional expression and communal sharing of suffering in Chinese culture often leads to a richer vocabulary around these feelings.
Word Family of 惻
Characters with 惻
What does 恻 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 惻
It is pronounced 'cè', with a falling tone.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 惻?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.