unknown, 15 strokes, radical 忄, rank #54520, Very Hard
ào(ao4) T4
1vexed; regretful; nervous
2to regret
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March 24, 2026
懊ào(ao4)
The character 懊 (ào) conveys feelings of vexation and regret, often associated with a sense of frustration or nervousness about a situation. It is commonly used to express remorse over actions taken or missed opportunities, and can indicate a deeper emotional state linked to disappointment.
Strokes15Radical忄Frequency#54520DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing regret is often linked to Confucian values of responsibility and reflection. The feeling of 懊 can be seen in various contexts, such as the pressure of meeting familial expectations, where one may feel regret for not achieving certain goals.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person who is feeling vexed, their face scrunched up and their hands in their hair, representing the character 懊. The left side of the character, with the heart radical (心), signifies emotions, while the right part can remind you of the chaotic feeling of regret – both visually and phonetically aligning with 'ào'.
Meanings of 懊
ào(ao4)
1vexed; regretful; nervous
2to regret
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 懊
懊Simplified
15Strokes
忄Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 懊
Podcast: 懊
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AI Study Notes for 懊
Quick Contrast
懊悔 (àohuǐ, to regret) vs 懊恼 (àonǎo, to be vexed) — use 懊 when emphasizing emotional frustration rather than the act of regretting a specific decision.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person who is feeling vexed, their face scrunched up and their hands in their hair, representing the character 懊. The left side of the character, with the heart radical (心), signifies emotions, while the right part can remind you of the chaotic feeling of regret – both visually and phonetically aligning with 'ào'.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the context in which you use 懊, as it may convey a strong emotional state. It is more formal and should be used in writing or serious conversations rather than casual chat. Common collocations include 懊恼 (ào nǎo) for 'vexed' and 懊悔 (ào huǐ) for 'to regret'.
HSK Study Tips
While 懊 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it relates to emotions and feelings, which are common themes in HSK level materials. Focus on understanding its emotional nuances and practice using it in sentences where you describe feelings of regret or frustration.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing regret is often linked to Confucian values of responsibility and reflection. The feeling of 懊 can be seen in various contexts, such as the pressure of meeting familial expectations, where one may feel regret for not achieving certain goals.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 懊 with similar characters like 怒 (nù), which means 'angry'. For example, saying '我很懊' (I am very vexed) instead of '我很怒' (I am very angry) can lead to misunderstanding of the emotional intensity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 懊
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Grammar Patterns of 懊
懊 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
她马上就____悔了。“哦，我很抱歉！你一定要原谅我。”
She was instantly contrite. "Oh, I am sorry! You must forgive me."
Example Sentences for 懊 (8)
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1
她马上就懊悔了。“哦，我很抱歉！你一定要原谅我。”
tā mǎ shàng jiù ào huǐ le。“ 。“， ó ， wǒ hěn！ bào qiàn ！ nǐ yī dìng yào。”
She was instantly contrite. "Oh, I am sorry! You must forgive me."
"Our marriage was a mistake," she said, looking rueful.
4
失业对每一个人来说都很懊丧。
shī yè duì měi yī gè rén lái shuō dū hěn ào sāng。
It's very dispiriting for anyone to be out of a job.
5
老夫妇惊异之后, 继以懊恼.
lǎo fū fù jīng yì zhī hòu, , jì yǐ ào.
After the old couple got over their initial surprise, vexation followed.
6
使他懊恼的是，可用于这个项目的资金太少。
shǐ tā ào nǎo de shì， ， kě yòng yú zhè gè xiàng mù de zī jīn tài。
What frustrates him is that there's too little money to spend on the project.
7
他们对在四分之一决赛里输给英格兰队这件事感到非常懊恼。
tā mén duì zài sì fēn zhī yī jué sài lǐ shū gěi yīng gé lán duì zhè jiàn shì gǎn dào fēi cháng ào nǎo。
They are sore about losing to England in the quarter-finals.
8
春月忽然懊悔起来,她不该在喝茶时那么端庄有礼.
chūn yuè hū rán ào huǐ qǐ lái, , tā bù gāi zài hē chá shí nà mó duān zhuāng yǒu.
Suddenly Spring Moon wished she had not been so virtuous at tea.
Cultural Notes for 懊
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, expressing regret is often linked to Confucian values of responsibility and reflection. The feeling of 懊 can be seen in various contexts, such as the pressure of meeting familial expectations, where one may feel regret for not achieving certain goals.
Word Family of 懊
Words Containing This Character4
懊悔to repent
懊恼annoyed懊惱
懊àoto regret
懊丧dejected懊喪
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 懊悔 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 懊
Common phrases include 懊恼 (ào nǎo), which means 'to be vexed', and 懊悔 (ào huǐ), meaning 'to regret'.
Yes, 懊 can be used in both contexts, but it's more commonly found in written Chinese and formal speech.
No, 懊 generally expresses stronger feelings of regret or frustration, so for mild annoyance, consider using something less intense.
