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March 24, 2026
贿(賄)huì(hui4)
The character 贿 (huì) refers to the act of offering money or gifts to influence someone's actions, typically in a corrupt manner. It is commonly used in legal and ethical discussions about corruption and misconduct in various contexts, such as politics and business.
Strokes10Radical贝Frequency#32288DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
Bribery is a significant issue in modern Chinese society, often discussed in the context of government policies and anti-corruption campaigns. Understanding this character helps learners grasp the serious implications of 贿 in political discourse.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wealthy person (the wealth radical, 财富) holding a bag of money (the gift aspect of 贿) to bribe an official. The sound 'huì' can remind you of 'who will take this bribe?' making it memorable.
Meanings of 贿
huì(hui4)
1bribe
2bribery
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 贿
贿Simplified
賄Traditional
10Strokes
贝Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#32288Frequency Rank
Podcast: 贿
Podcast: 贿
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AI Study Notes for 贿
Quick Contrast
贿 (huì) vs 行贿 (xínghuì) — use 贿 for the general act of bribery, while 行贿 specifically refers to the act of giving a bribe.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a wealthy person (the wealth radical, 财富) holding a bag of money (the gift aspect of 贿) to bribe an official. The sound 'huì' can remind you of 'who will take this bribe?' making it memorable.
Usage Notes
Be careful to use 贿 in contexts related to corruption or unethical behavior; it carries a strong negative connotation. Common collocations include 贿赂 (huìlù, to bribe) and 贿选 (huìxuǎn, to bribe for votes). Remember that the tone is crucial: 'huì' (贿) is fourth tone, distinct from similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 贿 is not specifically listed in the HSK levels, it is relevant for learners at the advanced level who are discussing governance, law, and ethics. Students should also focus on related vocabulary like 腐败 (fǔbài, corruption) and 受贿 (shòuhuì, to receive a bribe).
Cultural Note
Bribery is a significant issue in modern Chinese society, often discussed in the context of government policies and anti-corruption campaigns. Understanding this character helps learners grasp the serious implications of 贿 in political discourse.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 贿 with other characters related to wealth or gifts, such as 赠 (zèng, to gift). For example, saying '我给他贿钱' (wǒ gěi tā huì qián) incorrectly implies giving money as a gift rather than a bribe; the correct phrase for bribery context is '我给他贿赂'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 贿
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Grammar Patterns of 贿
贿 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 3 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
他被指控滥用秘密的政府行____基金，金额达1,750万美元。
He's accused of misusing $5 million from a secret government slush fund.
Example Sentences for 贿 (5)
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1
他被指控滥用秘密的政府行贿基金，金额达1,750万美元。
tā bèi zhǐ kòng làn yòng mì mì de zhèng fǔ háng huì jī jīn， ， jīn é1,750 dá 1,750 wàn。
He's accused of misusing $5 million from a secret government slush fund.
2
难民们同时抱怨说士兵偷他们的食品和私人财物，而且借提供食物和住处之机向他们索贿。
nán mín mén tóng shí bào yuàn shuō shì bīng tōu tā mén de shí pǐn hé sī rén cái wù， ， ér qiě jiè tí gōng shí wù hé zhù chǔ zhī jī xiàng tā mén suǒ。
Refugees also complain that soldiers steal food and personal property from them and demand bribes in exchange for food or shelter.
3
那个警察贪赃受贿,以饱私囊.
nà gè jǐng chá tān zāng shòu huì, , yǐ bǎo sī.
The policeman has lined his pockets by taking bribes.
4
他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
tā bèi zhǐ chēng zài rèn shí shōu shòu huì lù。
It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office.
This confession implicates numerous officials in the bribery scandal.
Cultural Notes for 贿
🏮Cultural insight
Bribery is a significant issue in modern Chinese society, often discussed in the context of government policies and anti-corruption campaigns. Understanding this character helps learners grasp the serious implications of 贿 in political discourse.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, bribery is also frowned upon, but the legal definitions and consequences can vary significantly compared to China's strict anti-corruption laws.
Word Family of 贿
Words Containing This Character8
贿赂huìlùto bribe賄賂
受贿shòuhuìto accept a bribe受賄
行贿to bribe行賄
贿huìbribe賄
索贿to exact bribes索賄
贿选to buy votes (in an election)賄選
贿买to bribe賄買
纳贿bribery納賄
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 贿赂 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 贿
贿 (huì) refers to bribery in general, while 行贿 (xínghuì) specifically means to offer a bribe.
No, 贿 always carries a negative connotation related to corruption.
Common phrases include 贿赂 (huìlù, to bribe) and 受贿 (shòuhuì, to receive a bribe).
