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殴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
殴Ōuto beat upv, 8 strokes, radical 殳, rank #19800, Very Hard
殴Ōuto hit sbv, 8 strokes, radical 殳, rank #19800, Very Hard
殴Ōuto hit, to beat, to fight with fistsv, 8 strokes, radical 殳, rank #19800, Very Hard
殴Ōusurname Ouv, 8 strokes, radical 殳, rank #19800, Very Hard
Ōu(Ou1) T1
  1. 1to beat up
  2. 2to hit sb
Also a Chinese surname, Ou — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

殴(毆)Ōu(Ou1)

The character 殴 (ōu) primarily means 'to hit' or 'to beat up,' often referring to physical violence involving fists. It is commonly used in contexts related to fighting or assault, and can indicate both intentional harm and playful hitting, depending on the context. The character can also be a surname, although this usage is less frequent.

Strokes8Radical殳Frequency#19800DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Physical confrontations are often viewed differently in Chinese culture compared to many Western contexts, where they might be more openly depicted in media. In China, discussions around violence may be more subdued, reflecting cultural values about harmony and conflict resolution.

Memory Tip

Think of 殴 as a combination of the radical for 'death' (死) and 'to strike' (打), which can help you remember that it involves hitting someone, potentially leading to harm. Imagine a scene where someone is playfully hitting a punching bag, but the bag unexpectedly collapses, leading to a 'death' of sorts for the bag. This vivid image helps connect the character with its meaning.

Meanings of 殴

Ōu(Ou1)
1to beat up
2to hit sb
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 殴

殴Simplified
毆Traditional
8Strokes
殳Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#19800Frequency Rank

Podcast: 殴

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Podcast: 殴

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AI Study Notes for 殴

Quick Contrast

打 (dǎ, to hit) - use 殴 (ōu) for more severe or aggressive connotations, while 打 (dǎ) can imply a broader range of hitting actions, including playful or non-violent contexts.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the context in which you use 殴, as it can imply serious violence. It's more appropriate in informal situations or when discussing conflicts rather than in formal settings. Common collocations include 殴打 (ōudǎ), meaning 'to beat up' or 'to assault'.

HSK Study Tips

Though 殴 is not included in the official HSK levels, its meaning is relevant for learners at higher levels who are discussing conflicts or violence. Students should focus on the different contexts where this verb can be used, as well as its collocations to expand their vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 殴 with similar characters like 打 (dǎ), which is more general for 'hit'. A common mistake is saying '我殴他' (wǒ ōu tā) in a non-violent context, which can lead to misunderstandings; instead, use 打 (dǎ) for lighter or non-violent contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 殴

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Etymology of 殴

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 殳 represents the meaning and 区 represents the sound. Simplified form of 毆.

Memory Hint

weapon

Semantic (meaning)殳
+
Phonetic (sound)区
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 殴

Phonosemantic compound. 殳 represents the meaning and 区 represents the sound. Simplified form of 毆.

  1. 1The meaning half殳 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half区 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayweapon
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 殴? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 殴?

Decomposition of 殴

IDS Structure⿰区殳
殴Full Character
=
区Ou1
left
殳Shu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 殴?

How to say to beat up in Chinese

“to beat up” in Chinese is殴Ōu

The character 殴 (ōu) primarily means 'to hit' or 'to beat up,' often referring to physical violence involving fists. It is commonly used in contexts related to fighting or assault, and can indicate both intentional harm and playful hitting, depending on the context. The character can also be a surname, although this usage is less frequent.

When to use 殴

Be cautious with the context in which you use 殴, as it can imply serious violence. It's more appropriate in informal situations or when discussing conflicts rather than in formal settings. Common collocations include 殴打 (ōudǎ), meaning 'to beat up' or 'to assault'.

殴 or something close to it

打 (dǎ, to hit) - use 殴 (ōu) for more severe or aggressive connotations, while 打 (dǎ) can imply a broader range of hitting actions, including playful or non-violent contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 殴 with similar characters like 打 (dǎ), which is more general for 'hit'. A common mistake is saying '我殴他' (wǒ ōu tā) in a non-violent context, which can lead to misunderstandings; instead, use 打 (dǎ) for lighter or non-violent contexts.

Write 殴

殴

Practice writing 殴 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 殴

殴 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 4 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

在警察局，我被指控____打他人。

At the police station, I was charged with assault.

Example Sentences for 殴 (8)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
在警察局，我被指控殴打他人。

zài jǐng chá jú， ， wǒ bèi zhǐ kòng ōu dǎ tā。

At the police station, I was charged with assault.
2
他有一次殴打了我哥的孩子。

tā yǒu yī cì ōu dǎ le wǒ gē de hái zǐ。

He beat up on my brother's kid one time.
3
有很多无法无天的醉鬼在相互斗殴。

yǒu hěn duō wú fǎ wú tiān de zuì guǐ zài xiāng hù dǒu ōu。

You get a lot of unruly drunks fighting each other.
4
结束这段感情并不意味着这种殴打伤害就会停止。

jié shù zhè duàn gǎn qíng bìng bù yì wèi zháo zhè zhǒng ōu dǎ shāng hài jiù huì tíng zhǐ。

Leaving the relationship does not mean that the battering will stop.
5
他说警卫会无缘无故殴打他们。

tā shuō jǐng wèi huì wú yuán wú gù ōu dǎ tā mén。

The guards, he said, would punch them for no reason.
6
当时我在布里克斯顿的一家夜总会里，那里发生了一场斗殴。

dāng shí wǒ zài bù lǐ kè sī dùn de yī jiā yè zǒng huì lǐ， ， nà lǐ fā shēng le yī cháng dǒu。

I was in a nightclub in Brixton and a fight broke out.
7
他们因殴斗滋事被判决为社区义务服务。

tā mén yīn ōu dǒu zī shì bèi pàn jué wéi shè qū yì wù fú wù。

They were convicted of affray and received community service sentences.
8
殴打比自己弱的人是一种残忍的表现.

ōu dǎ bǐ zì jǐ ruò de rén shì yī zhǒng cán rěn de biǎo xiàn.

To hit a weaker person is a sign of cruelty.

Word Family of 殴

Words Containing This Character4
殴打ōudǎto beat up毆打
斗殴to fight鬥毆
殴Ōuto beat up毆
殴斗brawl毆鬥
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 殴打 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 殴

No, 殴 is primarily used in informal contexts and is associated with violence or physical confrontation.

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