Meanings of 蹙
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About 蹙
Podcast: 蹙
Podcast: 蹙
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AI Study Notes for 蹙
皱 (zhòu) - use 蹙 (cù) for a more literary or emotional frown, while 皱 (zhòu) is more general for wrinkling or creasing.
When using 蹙, be careful not to confuse it with simpler expressions of worry. It is more formal and is often found in written contexts, such as literature. Common collocations include 蹙眉 (cù méi), meaning 'to frown' and 蹙额 (cù é), meaning 'to wrinkle one's forehead.'
While 蹙 is not in the HSK levels, it can be connected to more common emotional expressions found in HSK vocabulary. Students should focus on how it relates to emotions and facial expressions, as these themes are prevalent in conversational Mandarin.
Learners often misuse 蹙 by using it in overly casual contexts or confuse it with simpler words for 'worry.' For example, saying '我蹙了' (wǒ cù le) in a casual setting is incorrect; instead, use '我担心' (wǒ dān xīn) for 'I am worried.'
Pronunciation of 蹙
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Etymology of 蹙
grieving
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 蹙
- 1The meaning half戚 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half足 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaygrieving
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 蹙? 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
What type of character formation is 蹙?
Decomposition of 蹙
Identify the Components
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How to say to frown, to knit the brows; distressed in Chinese
“to frown, to knit the brows; distressed” in Chinese is蹙
The character 蹙 (cù) primarily means 'to frown' or 'to knit the brows,' often implying a sense of distress or hesitation. It is commonly used in literary contexts to describe a person's facial expression when they are troubled or worried. The nuance of this term conveys a deeper emotional state rather than just the physical act of frowning.
When to use 蹙
When using 蹙, be careful not to confuse it with simpler expressions of worry. It is more formal and is often found in written contexts, such as literature. Common collocations include 蹙眉 (cù méi), meaning 'to frown' and 蹙额 (cù é), meaning 'to wrinkle one's forehead.'
蹙 or something close to it
皱 (zhòu) - use 蹙 (cù) for a more literary or emotional frown, while 皱 (zhòu) is more general for wrinkling or creasing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 蹙 by using it in overly casual contexts or confuse it with simpler words for 'worry.' For example, saying '我蹙了' (wǒ cù le) in a casual setting is incorrect; instead, use '我担心' (wǒ dān xīn) for 'I am worried.'
Write 蹙
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Practice writing 蹙 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 蹙
蹙 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.
Complete the Sentence
他几乎能感觉到她在电话那端皱眉____额。
He almost felt her wincing at the other end of the telephone.
Example Sentences for 蹙 (6)
Word Family of 蹙
Compound Meaning
What does 蹙 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 蹙
蹙 is typically used in literary or formal contexts, often to describe emotional states.
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