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疯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
fēnginsaneHSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 疒, rank #511, Hard
fēngmadHSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 疒, rank #511, Hard
fēngwildHSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 疒, rank #511, Hard
fēngcrazy, insane, mentally illHSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 疒, rank #511, Hard
fēng(feng1) T1
  1. 1insane
  2. 2mad
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

(瘋)fēng(feng1)

The character 疯 (fēng) means 'crazy' or 'insane' and is often used to describe someone who is mentally unstable or behaves in an erratic manner. It can also imply wildness or excessive enthusiasm in informal contexts, such as 'going crazy' over a trend or activity.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#511DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, mental health is often a sensitive topic, and terms like 疯 can carry a stigma. Historically, the concept of madness was viewed differently, with some historical figures being revered for their eccentricities.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wild dog (the radical 疒, meaning illness) running around, barking crazily at everything. 'Fēng' sounds like 'fing' in 'fing crazy', connecting the sound of the word to its wild meaning.

Meanings of 疯

fēng(feng1)
1insane
2mad
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 疯

Simplified
Traditional
9Strokes
Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#511Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 疯

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 疯

Quick Contrast

狂 (kuáng) - use 疯 (fēng) for someone showing erratic behavior, while 狂 (kuáng) often emphasizes extreme intensity or wildness.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a wild dog (the radical 疒, meaning illness) running around, barking crazily at everything. 'Fēng' sounds like 'fing' in 'fing crazy', connecting the sound of the word to its wild meaning.

Usage Notes

This word is typically used in informal contexts and can be considered derogatory when referring to someone's mental state. Be cautious of tone, as the first tone (fēng) is the correct pronunciation; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 疯 is not in the official HSK level vocabulary, it is useful for intermediate learners who want to express emotions or states of mind. Students should focus on recognizing it in sentences and understanding its usage with adjectives and verbs.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, mental health is often a sensitive topic, and terms like 疯 can carry a stigma. Historically, the concept of madness was viewed differently, with some historical figures being revered for their eccentricities.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 疯 (fēng) with 疯狂 (fēngkuáng), thinking they are interchangeable. However, 疯 is more about insanity, while 疯狂 conveys a sense of wildness or craziness in behavior.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 疯

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Etymology of 疯

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

Phonosemantic compound. 疒 represents the meaning and 风 represents the sound. Simplified form of 瘋.

Memory Hint

sickness

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 疯?

Decomposition of 疯

IDS Structure⿸疒风
Full Character
=
ne4
enclosing
feng1
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 疯?

Write 疯

Practice writing 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 疯

疯 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

乔克醒来发现你走了,他简直气____了。

When Jock woke up and found you gone he went crazy.

Common Confusions with 疯

vs
fēng

Similar pronunciation but different meanings.

疯 (fēng) is an adjective meaning 'mad' or 'crazy', while 疯子 (fēngzi) is a noun meaning 'madman' or 'crazy person'.

1

他疯了 (Tā fēngle) means 'He is crazy', while 他是个疯子 (Tā shì gè fēngzi) means 'He is a madman'.

疯 (fēng) is an adjective meaning 'mad' or 'crazy', while 疯子 (fēngzi) is a noun meaning 'madman' or 'crazy person'.

💡Remember that adding '子' turns the adjective into a noun.
Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "insane"?

or

Usage Notes for 疯

Misuse of 疯 in colloquial speechCommon Error

Learners may confuse 疯 with other similar adjectives like '狂' (kuáng), which means 'wild' or 'frenzied'.

1

他很疯

He is very crazy.

2

他很狂

He is very wild.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

他很____

He is very crazy.

Example Sentences for 疯 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
乔克醒来发现你走了,他简直气疯了。

qiáo kè xǐng lái fā xiàn nǐ zǒu le, , tā jiǎn zhí qì fēng。

When Jock woke up and found you gone he went crazy.
2
你在干什么?你疯了吗?

nǐ zài gān shí mó? ? nǐ fēng le?

What are you doing? Are you out of your mind?
3
这名男子在一次疯狂的袭击中被刺死。

zhè míng nán zǐ zài yī cì fēng kuáng de xí jī zhōng bèi cì sǐ。

The man was stabbed to death in a frenzied attack.
4
几乎是凭着一股疯狂的热情,马克斯警告人们不要刻意追求晒成一身古铜色。

jī hū shì píng zháo yī gǔ fēng kuáng de rè qíng, , mǎ kè sī jǐng gào rén mén bù yào kè yì zhuī qiú shài chéng yī shēn gǔ tóng。

With almost evangelical fervour, Marks warns against deliberately seeking a tan.
5
乔治疯狂地挣扎,不断在水面上浮浮沉沉。

qiáo zhì fēng kuáng dì zhèng zā, , bù duàn zài shuǐ miàn shàng fú fú chén。

George struggled wildly, going under and resurfacing at regular intervals.
6
有几个法国运动员简直是疯了,完全失去了控制。

yǒu jī gè fǎ guó yùn dòng yuán jiǎn zhí shì fēng le, , wán quán shī qù le kòng。

A number of the French players went nuts, completely out of control.
7
钱伯斯一直在他耳边嗡嗡地说个不停,他都快疯了。

qián bó sī yī zhí zài tā ěr biān wēng wēng dì shuō gè bù tíng, , tā dū kuài fēng。

Chambers' voice droned, maddening as an insect around his head.
8
她无疑是我到目前为止所遇到的最疯狂之人。

tā wú yí shì wǒ dào mù qián wéi zhǐ suǒ yù dào de zuì fēng kuáng zhī rén。

She is without question the craziest person I've met to date.
9
我的大脑疯狂地运转,把那晚发生的事情飞快地一幕幕重演。

wǒ de dà nǎo fēng kuáng dì yùn zhuǎn, , bǎ nà wǎn fā shēng de shì qíng fēi kuài dì yī mù mù zhòng。

My mind was working frantically, running over the events of the evening.
10
“那真是疯了,”他吼道。

“ “ nà zhēn shì fēng,” le ,” tā。

"That's lunacy," he blustered.

Cultural Notes for 疯

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, mental health is often a sensitive topic, and terms like 疯 can carry a stigma. Historically, the concept of madness was viewed differently, with some historical figures being revered for their eccentricities.

Word Family of 疯

Words Containing This Character13
fēngmad
疯狂fēngkuángcrazy瘋狂
疯子fēngzimadman瘋子
发疯to go mad發瘋
疯癫insane瘋癲
疯牛病mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy)瘋牛病
疯疯癫癫deranged瘋瘋癲癲
装疯卖傻to play the fool (idiom)裝瘋賣傻
发酒疯to get wildly drunk發酒瘋
人来疯to get hyped up in front of an audience人來瘋
麻疯leprosy麻瘋
撒酒疯roaring drunk撒酒瘋
疯瘫paralysis瘋癱
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 疯 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 疯

疯 (fēng) refers to being insane or mad, while 疯狂 (fēngkuáng) translates to 'crazy' or 'wild' and can imply a more extreme or uncontrollable state. While both terms can describe mental instability, 疯狂 often carries a connotation of wildness or extreme behavior.