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忠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
忠
zhōng
loyal
HSK 4, nr, 8 strokes, radical 心, rank #5732, Medium
忠
zhōng
devoted
HSK 4, nr, 8 strokes, radical 心, rank #5732, Medium
忠
zhōng
honest
HSK 4, nr, 8 strokes, radical 心, rank #5732, Medium
忠
zhōng
loyalty, devotion, fidelity
HSK 4, nr, 8 strokes, radical 心, rank #5732, Medium
zhōng(zhong1)zhong T1
1loyal
2devoted
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March 24, 2026
忠zhōng(zhong1)
The character 忠 (zhōng) conveys the meaning of loyalty and devotion, often associated with being faithful to one's country, friends, or family. It is commonly used in contexts discussing moral integrity and reliability, such as in relationships or service to a cause.
Strokes8Radical心Frequency#5732DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 忠 is deeply rooted in Confucian values, which emphasize loyalty to the state and family. It is often cited in historical texts, reflecting the importance of fidelity in both interpersonal relationships and societal duty.
Memory tip
Imagine a heart (心) at the center of a shield (中), representing loyalty that protects and supports. The character 忠 combines the heart's sincerity with the idea of being in the middle, suggesting a steadfast commitment amidst challenges.
Meanings of 忠
zhōng(zhong1)
1loyal
2devoted
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 忠 means.
About 忠
忠Simplified
8Strokes
心Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#5732Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4
Podcast: 忠
Podcast: 忠
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AI study notes for 忠
Quick Contrast
忠 (zhōng) vs 诚 (chéng) — choose 忠 when emphasizing loyalty and devotion, while 诚 focuses on honesty and sincerity.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 忠 with other similar characters like 忍 (rěn), which means to endure. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing loyalty to a country or organization. Pay attention to the tone when pronouncing zhōng, as a mispronunciation can lead to misunderstanding.
HSK Study Tips
Although 忠 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it connects well with themes of loyalty and integrity found in HSK Level 4 and 5 words. Focus on using it in sentences that express commitment or fidelity to enhance your vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly write 忠 as 忠诚 (zhōngchéng) when they mean to use just 忠. Remember that 忠 can stand alone to express loyalty, while 忠诚 emphasizes the quality of being loyal.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 忠
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 忠 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
忠 = 心 + 中. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 忠
IDS Structure⿱中心
忠Full character
=
中Zhong1
top
心xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 忠?
How to say loyal in Chinese
“loyal” in Chinese is忠zhōng
The character 忠 (zhōng) conveys the meaning of loyalty and devotion, often associated with being faithful to one's country, friends, or family. It is commonly used in contexts discussing moral integrity and reliability, such as in relationships or service to a cause.
When to use 忠
Learners often confuse 忠 with other similar characters like 忍 (rěn), which means to endure. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing loyalty to a country or organization. Pay attention to the tone when pronouncing zhōng, as a mispronunciation can lead to misunderstanding.
忠 or something close to it
忠 (zhōng) vs 诚 (chéng) — choose 忠 when emphasizing loyalty and devotion, while 诚 focuses on honesty and sincerity.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistakenly write 忠 as 忠诚 (zhōngchéng) when they mean to use just 忠. Remember that 忠 can stand alone to express loyalty, while 忠诚 emphasizes the quality of being loyal.
Write 忠
忠
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Practice writing 忠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 忠
忠 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我感谢他们长期以来____诚的效力。
I thanked them for their long and loyal service.
Example sentences for 忠 (10)
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1
我感谢他们长期以来忠诚的效力。
wǒ gǎnxiè tāmen chángqīyǐlái zhōngchéng de xiàolì。
I thanked them for their long and loyal service.
2
对某些有不忠嫌疑的官员已经提起了诉讼。
duì mǒu xiē yǒu bù zhōng xiányí de guānyuán yǐjīng tíqǐ le sùsòng。
Charges had already been made against certain officials suspected of disloyalty.
