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March 24, 2026
暴bào(Bao4)
The character 暴 (bào) primarily conveys the idea of suddenness or violence. It is often used to describe actions that are brutal or cruel, as well as situations that occur abruptly. Common contexts include discussions of violent weather, aggressive behavior, or severe consequences.
Strokes15Radical日Frequency#4767DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese literature and film, characters that embody暴 often represent oppressive forces or tyrants, reflecting the cultural significance of justice and rebellion against cruelty.
Memory tip
Imagine a storm (the '暴' in 暴风雨, bào fēng yǔ) that suddenly erupts, causing chaos and destruction. The left part of the character (夕) looks like a person shouting as the storm arrives, while the right part (暴) indicates the fierce nature of the event, helping you remember both its appearance and meaning.
Meanings of 暴
bào(Bao4)
1sudden
2violent
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About 暴
暴Simplified
15Strokes
日Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4767Frequency Rank
Podcast: 暴
Podcast: 暴
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AI study notes for 暴
Quick Contrast
暴 (bào) vs 猛 (měng) — use 暴 for sudden or violent actions, while 猛 emphasizes ferocity or intensity.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 暴 with similar-sounding characters like 脏 (zāng, dirty) or 忙 (máng, busy), which have different meanings. The character can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it often carries a negative connotation, so use it thoughtfully.
HSK Study Tips
Although 暴 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary list, it can be related to words like 暴力 (bàolì, violence) and 暴风 (bàofēng, storm). Focus on its usage in compound words and phrases to understand its connotations better.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 暴 by applying it in contexts that require a more neutral or positive term. For example, saying 暴天气 (bào tiānqì) to mean 'fine weather' is incorrect; instead, use 好天气 (hǎo tiānqì).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 暴
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Learning Lab
Knowing 暴 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.
Origin unclear. Possibly represents two hands (共) laying out rice (米) to dry under the sun (日), representing the meaning "dry out under the sun", now written as 曝.
The character 暴 (bào) primarily conveys the idea of suddenness or violence. It is often used to describe actions that are brutal or cruel, as well as situations that occur abruptly. Common contexts include discussions of violent weather, aggressive behavior, or severe consequences.
When to use 暴
Be careful not to confuse 暴 with similar-sounding characters like 脏 (zāng, dirty) or 忙 (máng, busy), which have different meanings. The character can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it often carries a negative connotation, so use it thoughtfully.
暴 or something close to it
暴 (bào) vs 猛 (měng) — use 暴 for sudden or violent actions, while 猛 emphasizes ferocity or intensity.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 暴 by applying it in contexts that require a more neutral or positive term. For example, saying 暴天气 (bào tiānqì) to mean 'fine weather' is incorrect; instead, use 好天气 (hǎo tiānqì).
Write 暴
暴
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Practice writing 暴 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 暴
暴 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 7 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.
