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悼念 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
悼念dàoniànto grieveHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #12520, Very Hard
dàoniàn(dao4nian4)dao nian T4
  1. 1to grieve
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March 24, 2026

悼念dàoniàn(dao4nian4)

悼念 (dàoniàn) means to mourn or grieve for someone who has passed away. It is often used in contexts such as funerals or memorial services, where expressions of sorrow and remembrance are shared. This word conveys a deep emotional connection and respect for the deceased.

Strokes19Frequency#12520DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, expressing grief and mourning is an essential part of showing respect for the deceased, often observed during the Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day), when families visit graves and remember their ancestors.

Memory tip

Imagine a person sitting quietly in a garden (the character 悼) with a single tear rolling down their cheek, remembering a loved one who has passed (念). The tear symbolizes their grief, and the garden represents a peaceful place of reflection.

Meanings of 悼念

dàoniàn(dao4nian4)
1to grieve
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About 悼念

悼念Simplified
19Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 悼念

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Podcast: 悼念

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AI study notes for 悼念

Quick Contrast

悼念 (dàoniàn) vs 哀悼 (āidào) — use 悼念 for a more personal, emotional expression of mourning, while 哀悼 is often used in formal contexts.

Usage Notes

悼念 is typically used in formal contexts related to mourning. Common mistakes include using it in casual conversations, which can feel inappropriate. It's often paired with words like '逝者' (deceased) or '亲人' (relatives) to specify who is being mourned.

HSK Study Tips

Although 悼念 is not an HSK word, it connects to themes of family and relationships found in lower levels. Students should focus on using it in appropriate contexts, as well as learning related vocabulary such as '悲伤' (sorrow) and '哀悼' (to grieve).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 悼念 with similar words like '痛苦' (pain) or '悲伤' (sadness), using them interchangeably. For instance, saying '我在痛苦他' (I am in pain for him) is incorrect; use '我在悼念他' (I am mourning him) instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 悼念

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Component characters

悼dàoto mourn
11 strokes忄
View full entry
念niànto think of, to recall; to study
HSK 58 strokes心
View full entry

How to say to grieve in Chinese

“to grieve” in Chinese is悼念dàoniàn

悼念 (dàoniàn) means to mourn or grieve for someone who has passed away. It is often used in contexts such as funerals or memorial services, where expressions of sorrow and remembrance are shared. This word conveys a deep emotional connection and respect for the deceased.

When to use 悼念

悼念 is typically used in formal contexts related to mourning. Common mistakes include using it in casual conversations, which can feel inappropriate. It's often paired with words like '逝者' (deceased) or '亲人' (relatives) to specify who is being mourned.

悼念 or something close to it

悼念 (dàoniàn) vs 哀悼 (āidào) — use 悼念 for a more personal, emotional expression of mourning, while 哀悼 is often used in formal contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 悼念 with similar words like '痛苦' (pain) or '悲伤' (sadness), using them interchangeably. For instance, saying '我在痛苦他' (I am in pain for him) is incorrect; use '我在悼念他' (I am mourning him) instead.

Write 悼念

悼
念

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Frequently asked questions about 悼念

Yes, 悼念 can be used to express grief for pets, although it is more commonly associated with humans.

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