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March 24, 2026
吠fèi(fei4)
The character 吠 (fèi) means 'to bark,' typically used in the context of dogs barking. It can also convey a sense of noisy or aggressive vocalization, often associated with animals. In literature or conversation, it may symbolize loud complaints or outbursts.
Strokes7Radical口Frequency#11754DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, dogs are often seen as protectors and companions, making the sound of barking significant in stories and folklore. Barking can symbolize alertness or warnings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a dog barking loudly at night, the sound echoing in the quiet. The character 吠 features the radical for 'mouth' (口), suggesting vocalization, and its pronunciation 'fèi' sounds like the excited exclamation of a dog barking.
Meanings of 吠
fèi(fei4)
1to bark
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 吠
吠Simplified
7Strokes
口Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 吠
Podcast: 吠
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AI Study Notes for 吠
Quick Contrast
吼 (hǒu) - use 吠 (fèi) for barking specifically related to dogs, while 吼 (hǒu) can refer to a more general roar or shout, often used for larger animals or loud human expressions.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a dog barking loudly at night, the sound echoing in the quiet. The character 吠 features the radical for 'mouth' (口), suggesting vocalization, and its pronunciation 'fèi' sounds like the excited exclamation of a dog barking.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 吠 with similar-sounding characters. It is an informal term and is mainly used in settings discussing animals. Common collocations include 吠叫 (fèi jiào), meaning 'to bark loudly.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 吠 is not listed in the HSK levels, it connects to vocabulary related to animals and sounds, which may appear in HSK vocabulary or practice. Focus on its usage in context with other animal-related words.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, dogs are often seen as protectors and companions, making the sound of barking significant in stories and folklore. Barking can symbolize alertness or warnings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 吠 with similar-sounding characters like 非 (fēi), which means 'not.' Always remember that 吠 specifically relates to the sound dogs make. For example, saying 吠为 (fèi wèi) instead of 吠叫 (fèi jiào) is incorrect; use 吠叫 for clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 吠
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Grammar Patterns of 吠
吠 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. 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
那只狗兴奋地狂____着向女主人跑去。
Barking deliriously, the dog bounded towards his mistress.
Example Sentences for 吠 (10)
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1
那只狗兴奋地狂吠着向女主人跑去。
nà zhī gǒu xīng fèn dì kuáng fèi zháo xiàng nǚ zhǔ rén pǎo qù。
Barking deliriously, the dog bounded towards his mistress.
2
那只小狗狂吠着。
nà zhī xiǎo gǒu kuáng fèi zháo。
The little dog yapped frantically.
3
他能听见她的狗在暗处吠叫、哀嚎。
tā néng tīng jiàn tā de gǒu zài àn chǔ fèi jiào、 、 āi。
He could hear her dog barking and whining in the background.
4
母亲拉住了那几只吠叫的狗的项圈。
mǔ qīn lā zhù le nà jī zhī fèi jiào de gǒu de xiàng quān。
Mother took hold of the barking dogs by their collars.
5
那只狗碰到任何人都要吠叫.
nà zhī gǒu pèng dào rèn hé rén dū yào fèi jiào.
That dog will pick a quarrel with anyone he meets.
6
然后它坐着吠叫,直到有人把它放出去为止.
rán hòu tā zuò zháo fèi jiào, , zhí dào yǒu rén bǎ tā fàng chū qù wéi.
Then he sits and barks until someone lets him out.
Our dog, Rex, used to sit outside our front gate and bark.
8
那群猎狗在大声吠叫着.
nà qún liè gǒu zài dà shēng fèi jiào zháo.
The pack of hounds was baying loudly.
9
这只狗对陌生人吠叫.
zhè zhī gǒu duì mò shēng rén fèi jiào.
The dog barks at strangers.
10
狗又在狂吠。
gǒu yòu zài kuáng fèi。
The dog growled again.
Cultural Notes for 吠
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, dogs are often seen as protectors and companions, making the sound of barking significant in stories and folklore. Barking can symbolize alertness or warnings.
Word Family of 吠
Words Containing This Character4
吠fèito bark
狂吠to howl
吠叫to bark
蜀犬吠日alludes to the Sichuan foggy weather where it's uncommon to see a sunny day
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 吠 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 吠
Yes, 吠 specifically refers to the barking sound made by dogs.
Yes, it can describe loud complaints or aggressive vocalizations, but it's primarily associated with dogs.
The correct pronunciation is 'fèi' with a falling tone.
