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暴躁 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
暴躁bàozàoirascibleHSK 7, unknown, 35 strokes, rank #7168, Very Hard
暴躁bàozàoirritableHSK 7, unknown, 35 strokes, rank #7168, Very Hard
暴躁bàozàoviolentHSK 7, unknown, 35 strokes, rank #7168, Very Hard
bàozào(bao4zao4)bao zao T4
  1. 1irascible
  2. 2irritable
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March 24, 2026

暴躁bàozào(bao4zao4)

The word 暴躁 (bào zào) describes a person who is easily angered or irritable, often reacting violently or explosively to minor annoyances. It is commonly used to characterize someone who has a short temper or is prone to outbursts of anger, making it relevant in both personal and professional contexts.

Strokes35Frequency#7168DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, maintaining harmony and calmness is highly valued, making someone who is 暴躁 stand out negatively. This reflects the broader cultural emphasis on self-control and the collective over the individual.

Memory tip

Imagine a bull (暴) charging in a storm (躁), representing uncontrollable anger. The 'bào' sounds like 'bowl,' so think of a bowl filled with hot soup that spills over when it gets too hot — that's someone who is 暴躁!

Meanings of 暴躁

bàozào(bao4zao4)
1irascible
2irritable
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About 暴躁

暴躁Simplified
35Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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Podcast: 暴躁

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AI study notes for 暴躁

Quick Contrast

易怒 (yì nù) - use 暴躁 when emphasizing explosive reactions rather than just general irritability; 急躁 (jí zào) - choose 暴躁 for more intense, violent connotations compared to merely being hasty or impatient.

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 暴躁 in formal contexts, as it can imply a lack of control and may come off as rude. Common collocations include 暴躁的性格 (irritable personality) and 暴躁的情绪 (irritable emotions). Watch out for the tone, as mispronouncing the tones can lead to confusion.

HSK Study Tips

While 暴躁 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it relates to emotional expressions prevalent in levels one and two, such as 快乐 (happy) and 生气 (angry). Students should focus on pronunciation and context to effectively convey emotions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 暴躁 with 生气 (shēng qì, angry), but 暴躁 implies a more persistent irritability. For example, saying '我今天很生气' (I am very angry today) is correct, but saying '我今天很暴躁' could suggest a chronic irritability that may not be appropriate for the situation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 暴躁

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Component characters

暴bàosudden
15 strokes日
View full entry
躁zàohot-tempered
20 strokes足
View full entry

How to say irascible in Chinese

“irascible” in Chinese is暴躁bàozào

The word 暴躁 (bào zào) describes a person who is easily angered or irritable, often reacting violently or explosively to minor annoyances. It is commonly used to characterize someone who has a short temper or is prone to outbursts of anger, making it relevant in both personal and professional contexts.

When to use 暴躁

Be cautious when using 暴躁 in formal contexts, as it can imply a lack of control and may come off as rude. Common collocations include 暴躁的性格 (irritable personality) and 暴躁的情绪 (irritable emotions). Watch out for the tone, as mispronouncing the tones can lead to confusion.

暴躁 or something close to it

易怒 (yì nù) - use 暴躁 when emphasizing explosive reactions rather than just general irritability; 急躁 (jí zào) - choose 暴躁 for more intense, violent connotations compared to merely being hasty or impatient.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 暴躁 with 生气 (shēng qì, angry), but 暴躁 implies a more persistent irritability. For example, saying '我今天很生气' (I am very angry today) is correct, but saying '我今天很暴躁' could suggest a chronic irritability that may not be appropriate for the situation.

Write 暴躁

暴
躁

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Frequently asked questions about 暴躁

暴躁 is generally considered informal and may be seen as impolite in formal situations.

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