dusk, nightfall, twilight, dark; to faint, to lose consciousness
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 日, rank #4132, Hard
hūn(hun1) T1
1muddle-headed
2twilight
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
昏hūn(hun1)
The character 昏 (hūn) primarily refers to a state of confusion or muddle-headedness. It can also denote twilight or the period of dusk when the day transitions to night. This word is commonly used in contexts related to losing consciousness or being in a state of disorientation.
Strokes8Radical日Frequency#4132DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of twilight or dusk (as represented by 昏) often symbolizes transition and reflection, as it is a time when day turns into night, evoking themes present in poetry and art.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'hungry' person (sounds like 'hūn') who is so tired and confused that they can hardly think straight at twilight. The character 昏 looks like a person (the top part) overwhelmed by the setting sun (the bottom part), symbolizing how exhaustion can cloud your mind.
Meanings of 昏
hūn(hun1)
1muddle-headed
2twilight
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 昏
昏Simplified
8Strokes
日Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4132Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 昏
Podcast: 昏
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 昏
Quick Contrast
昏 (hūn) vs 迷 (mí) — use 昏 for confusion related to disorientation or twilight, while 迷 refers to being lost or confused in understanding.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'hungry' person (sounds like 'hūn') who is so tired and confused that they can hardly think straight at twilight. The character 昏 looks like a person (the top part) overwhelmed by the setting sun (the bottom part), symbolizing how exhaustion can cloud your mind.
Usage Notes
Be cautious of the context in which you use 昏, as it can indicate both physical states (like fainting) and mental states (like confusion). It is primarily used in informal contexts, so avoid it in formal writing. Common collocations include phrases like '昏迷' (hūn mí - to faint) or '昏暗' (hūn àn - dim or dark).
HSK Study Tips
Although 昏 is not included in the official HSK levels, it relates to vocabulary around emotions and physical states, which are common in conversational Chinese. Focus on understanding its implications in different contexts, as well as its overlap with related terms like 晕 (yūn - dizzy).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of twilight or dusk (as represented by 昏) often symbolizes transition and reflection, as it is a time when day turns into night, evoking themes present in poetry and art.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 昏 with similar characters, like 暗 (àn - dark), leading to sentences like '天昏' (tiān hūn - 'the sky is dark'), which should instead be '天暗' (tiān àn). Remember, 昏 is more about the state of being confused or the time of day.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 昏
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 昏 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 昏 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 昏
昏 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 6 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.
tā méi xiǎng dào zhè wèi nián qīng nán zǐ huì zài huáng hūn qián zài cì chū xiàn。
He had not expected the young man to reappear before evening.
9
他不停地想太疼了，他会疼昏过去了。
tā bù tíng dì xiǎng tài téng le， ， tā huì téng hūn guò qù。
He kept thinking the pain was such that he would faint.
10
即便在昏暗的光线下，那台设备也显得陈旧不堪。
jí biàn zài hūn àn de guāng xiàn xià， ， nà tái shè bèi yě xiǎn dé chén jiù bù。
Even in the dim light the equipment looked old and time-worn.
Cultural Notes for 昏
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of twilight or dusk (as represented by 昏) often symbolizes transition and reflection, as it is a time when day turns into night, evoking themes present in poetry and art.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
The notion of twilight as a time of confusion or reflection is less emphasized in Western cultures, where dusk is often simply seen as the end of the day without the same emotional connotations.
Word Family of 昏
Compounds17
婚hun1to marry
崏
惛hun1confused, forgetful; senile; stupid
殙
痻
碈
緍
阍hun1gatekeeper; gate, door
惽
捪
棔
涽
焝
琘
睧
諙
錉
Words Containing This Character20
昏迷hūnmístupor
昏hūntwilight
黄昏huánghūndusk黃昏
昏倒to faint
昏暗dusky
昏睡sleep
头昏dizzy頭昏
昏迷不醒to remain unconscious
昏昏欲睡drowsy
昏厥to faint
昏昏沉沉dizzy
发昏to faint發昏
昏天黑地fig. pitch dark
头昏脑胀giddy頭昏腦脹
冲昏头脑to go to one's head沖昏頭腦
头昏眼花to faint with blurred vision (idiom); dizzy and eyes dimmed頭昏眼花
昏庸muddleheaded
昏沉murky
昏君incapable ruler
昏花dim (eyesight)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 婚 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 昏
In addition to 'twilight,' 昏 can describe someone who is fainting or confused, depending on the context.
No, 昏 is generally used in informal contexts; in formal writing, consider using more specific terms.
Yes, it can describe a state of confusion or muddle-headedness related to emotions or mental clarity.
