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March 24, 2026
嚎háo(hao2)
The character 嚎 (háo) means to cry loudly or to scream, often associated with animals howling or humans expressing extreme emotions. It can convey a sense of distress or a strong outburst of feeling, commonly used in both literary and conversational contexts when describing loud cries or yells.
Strokes17Radical口Frequency#15845DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, howling is often associated with grief or lamentation, especially in poetry and folklore. The imagery of animals howling, such as wolves or dogs, can symbolize loyalty or the expression of deep sorrow.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wolf howling under the moonlight, its howl echoing through the night. The character 嚎 has the mouth radical (口), symbolizing the act of crying out loudly. Visualize the wolf’s mouth wide open as it lets out a powerful howl, which sounds like 'háo'.
Meanings of 嚎
háo(hao2)
1to cry loudly, to scream, to yell
2howl
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 嚎
嚎Simplified
17Strokes
口Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嚎
Podcast: 嚎
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AI Study Notes for 嚎
Quick Contrast
嚎 (háo) vs 叫 (jiào) — use 嚎 for loud, often distressing cries, while 叫 is more general for calling or shouting.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a wolf howling under the moonlight, its howl echoing through the night. The character 嚎 has the mouth radical (口), symbolizing the act of crying out loudly. Visualize the wolf’s mouth wide open as it lets out a powerful howl, which sounds like 'háo'.
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 嚎 in formal contexts; it’s more suited for informal situations or expressive writing. Common collocations include 嚎叫 (to howl/yell) and 嚎啕大哭 (to cry loudly). Remember that the tone is the second tone (háo), which can be confused with the first tone (hāo) in pronunciation.
HSK Study Tips
Although 嚎 is not included in the HSK levels, it can be related to other words at HSK 5 that express emotional states or sounds, like 哭 (kū, to cry). Focus on recognizing how this character fits into the broader context of emotions and sounds in the language.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, howling is often associated with grief or lamentation, especially in poetry and folklore. The imagery of animals howling, such as wolves or dogs, can symbolize loyalty or the expression of deep sorrow.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嚎 with 哀 (āi), which means to lament. An incorrect usage would be saying '我很哀' (I am very lamenting), when it should be '我很嚎' (I cry out loudly).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嚎
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Grammar Patterns of 嚎
嚎 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
那只狗开始哀____。
The dog began to yowl.
Example Sentences for 嚎 (8)
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1
那只狗开始哀嚎。
nà zhī gǒu kāi shǐ āi háo。
The dog began to yowl.
2
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.
The wolf clawed at the tree and howled the whole night.
6
狗在门前嚎叫着要出去.
gǒu zài mén qián háo jiào zháo yào chū qù.
The dog whined at the door, asking to be let out.
7
他嚎叫一声跳了起来.
tā háo jiào yī shēng tiào le qǐ lái.
He sprang up with a howl.
8
妈妈知道怎样哄好大声嚎哭的小孩, 还是让她做吧.
mā mā zhī dào zěn yàng hōng hǎo dà shēng háo kū de xiǎo hái, , huán shì ràng tā zuò.
Mother knows how to comfort a squalling baby. Let her do it.
Exercise 1 of 1
Reorder the Sentence
The dog began to yowl.
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Cultural Notes for 嚎
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, howling is often associated with grief or lamentation, especially in poetry and folklore. The imagery of animals howling, such as wolves or dogs, can symbolize loyalty or the expression of deep sorrow.
Word Family of 嚎
Words Containing This Character6
嚎háohowl
哀嚎to howl in grief
嚎啕大哭to wail
鬼哭狼嚎to wail like ghosts and howl like wolves (idiom)
嚎哭to bawl
干嚎to cry out loud without tears乾嚎
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 嚎 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嚎
It is pronounced as háo, with a rising tone.
Yes, 嚎 can describe loud cries or screams made by humans, often in emotional contexts.
It is more common in literary contexts or when describing loud sounds, rather than in everyday conversation.
