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咢 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
èonomatopoetic, a drumming soundx, 9 strokes, radical 口, Very Hard
èbeat a drumunknown, 9 strokes, radical 口, Very Hard
èstartleunknown, 9 strokes, radical 口, Very Hard
è(e4) T4
  1. 1onomatopoetic, a drumming sound
  2. 2beat a drum
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March 24, 2026
è(e4)

The character 咢 (è) is an onomatopoetic word that mimics the sound of a drumbeat or a startling noise. It is often used in contexts related to music or sudden sounds, conveying a sense of rhythm or surprise.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese music, the use of percussion instruments is fundamental, and the sound of a drum can signify important cultural events or celebrations, such as the Lunar New Year.

Memory Tip

Imagine a drummer striking a drum, producing a loud 'è' sound that echoes in the air. The character 咢 looks like a person (口) with a raised fist (也) ready to strike, emphasizing the action of beating a drum.

Meanings of 咢

è(e4)
1onomatopoetic, a drumming sound
2beat a drum
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 咢

Simplified
9Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 咢

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 咢

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a drummer striking a drum, producing a loud 'è' sound that echoes in the air. The character 咢 looks like a person (口) with a raised fist (也) ready to strike, emphasizing the action of beating a drum.

Usage Notes

This character is quite rare, and learners may confuse it with more common words for sound or noise. It's more likely to be found in literary or artistic contexts than in everyday conversation. Be careful with tone, as saying 'e' instead of 'è' can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 咢 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your appreciation of onomatopoeia in Chinese. Connect it with other sound-related words at your level, like 响 (xiǎng) meaning 'to make a sound' or 鼓 (gǔ) meaning 'drum.'

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese music, the use of percussion instruments is fundamental, and the sound of a drum can signify important cultural events or celebrations, such as the Lunar New Year.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 咢 as 'e' instead of 'è,' losing the correct meaning. Additionally, they might confuse it with similar-sounding words like 也 (yě), which means 'also.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 咢

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Etymology of 咢

Decomposition of 咢

IDS Structure⿱⿰口口亏
Full Character
=
kou3
left
kou3
right
kui1
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 咢?

Write 咢

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 咢

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese music, the use of percussion instruments is fundamental, and the sound of a drum can signify important cultural events or celebrations, such as the Lunar New Year.

Word Family of 咢

Words Containing This Character1
èstartle
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 咢 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 咢

No, 咢 is more commonly found in literary contexts or poetry rather than in daily speech.