Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
毆 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
毆ōuto hit, to beat, to fight with fistsx, 15 strokes, radical 殳
ōu(ou1)ou T1
  1. 1to hit, to beat, to fight with fists
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

毆ōu(ou1)

The character 毆 (ōu) means to hit or beat someone, specifically with fists. It is often used in contexts related to physical violence or fighting, such as in discussions about brawls or altercations. This character conveys a sense of aggression and is typically used in informal settings.

Strokes15Radical殳
Cultural note

In Chinese society, physical confrontations are generally frowned upon, and the use of the character 毆 reflects the seriousness of violence. Discussions about fighting often involve moral considerations, highlighting the importance of maintaining harmony.

Memory tip

Imagine a boxer throwing a punch ('ōu' sounds like 'oh' when you get hit). The left side of the character 毆 resembles a fist, and the right side shows a person being hit, helping you visualize the action of hitting.

Meanings of 毆

ōu(ou1)
1to hit, to beat, to fight with fists
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 毆 means.

About 毆

毆Simplified
15Strokes
殳Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 毆

JasonAmy

Podcast: 毆

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 毆

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 毆, as it carries a negative connotation and is considered informal. Common collocations include '毆打' (ōudǎ, to beat someone) and '毆鬥' (ōudòu, to fight). Avoid using it in formal contexts or when discussing non-violent interactions.

HSK Study Tips

Although 毆 is not on the HSK list, understanding it can enhance your vocabulary related to violence or conflict. Focus on memorizing its pronunciation and common phrases that include this character, which may appear in more advanced dialogues.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 毆 with 打, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我毆他' (Wǒ ōu tā) is correct, but using '我打他' (Wǒ dǎ tā) might be too general, depending on the context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 毆

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 毆, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 毆 to you

Let me explain 毆 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 毆 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 毆?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 毆 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 毆

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)區
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

毆 = 殳 + 區. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 毆

IDS Structure⿰區殳
毆Full character
=
區qu1
left
殳Shu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 毆?

How to say to hit, to beat, to fight with fists in Chinese

“to hit, to beat, to fight with fists” in Chinese is毆ōu

The character 毆 (ōu) means to hit or beat someone, specifically with fists. It is often used in contexts related to physical violence or fighting, such as in discussions about brawls or altercations. This character conveys a sense of aggression and is typically used in informal settings.

When to use 毆

Be cautious when using 毆, as it carries a negative connotation and is considered informal. Common collocations include '毆打' (ōudǎ, to beat someone) and '毆鬥' (ōudòu, to fight). Avoid using it in formal contexts or when discussing non-violent interactions.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 毆 with 打, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我毆他' (Wǒ ōu tā) is correct, but using '我打他' (Wǒ dǎ tā) might be too general, depending on the context.

Write 毆

毆

Practice writing 毆 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 毆?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Word Family of 毆

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

Words with 毆

What does 殴打 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 毆

打 (dǎ) means to hit or strike in a more general sense, while 毆 (ōu) specifically refers to hitting with fists and implies violence.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 毆?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab