Meanings of 欷
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About 欷
Podcast: 欷
Podcast: 欷
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AI Study Notes for 欷
叹 (tàn, to sigh) — use 欷 for a more emotional or poetic context, while 叹 is more general.
When using 欷, it's important to consider the emotional tone of your sentence; it is more suitable for formal or literary contexts rather than everyday conversations. A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to the context in which you use it.
Although 欷 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be connected to other emotional expressions such as 哭 (kū, to cry) and 呜 (wū, to wail). Focus on the emotional connotation and usage in poetry or songs to enrich your vocabulary at this level.
Learners often confuse 欷 with other characters that express sorrow, like 哭 (kū). For example, saying '我很 欷' instead of '我很 哭' can lead to misunderstandings since 欷 implies a more poetic tone.
Pronunciation of 欷
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Etymology of 欷
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Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 欷
- 1The meaning half欠 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half希 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayyawn
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 欷? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 欷
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How to say to sigh; to sob in Chinese
“to sigh; to sob” in Chinese is欷
The character 欷 (xī) means to sigh or sob, conveying a sense of deep emotion or sadness. It is often used to express feelings of lament or sorrow, typically in a poetic or literary context. You might encounter this character in songs, literature, or conversations that involve discussing grief or longing.
When to use 欷
When using 欷, it's important to consider the emotional tone of your sentence; it is more suitable for formal or literary contexts rather than everyday conversations. A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to the context in which you use it.
欷 or something close to it
叹 (tàn, to sigh) — use 欷 for a more emotional or poetic context, while 叹 is more general.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 欷 with other characters that express sorrow, like 哭 (kū). For example, saying '我很 欷' instead of '我很 哭' can lead to misunderstandings since 欷 implies a more poetic tone.
Write 欷
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Practice writing 欷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 欷
Compound Meaning
What does 欷 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 欷
It's best reserved for literary or poetic contexts due to its emotional weight.
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