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忮 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
zhìstubborn; perverse; aggressiveg, 7 strokes, radical 忄, Very Hard
zhì(zhi4) T4
  1. 1stubborn; perverse; aggressive
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March 24, 2026

zhì(zhi4)

The character 忮 (zhì) describes a person who is stubborn or perverse, often showing aggression in their behavior or attitudes. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is unyielding or obstinate, reflecting a strong will that may not always lead to positive outcomes.

Strokes7RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, stubbornness can be seen as both a virtue and a vice, depending on the context. For instance, the concept of 'sticking to one's guns' is often admired in traditional stories, but excessive stubbornness can lead to conflicts.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fierce bull (symbolizing stubbornness) charging forward with its horns pointing aggressively. The character 忮 has a radical that suggests emotions (心), hinting at the inner turmoil of someone who is obstinately pursuing their desires.

Meanings of 忮

zhì(zhi4)
1stubborn; perverse; aggressive
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 忮

Simplified
7Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 忮

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 忮

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a fierce bull (symbolizing stubbornness) charging forward with its horns pointing aggressively. The character 忮 has a radical that suggests emotions (心), hinting at the inner turmoil of someone who is obstinately pursuing their desires.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when using 忮; it carries a negative connotation. It is more suitable in informal contexts or literary works rather than formal speech. Common collocations include phrases that describe aggressive behavior or stubborn attitudes.

HSK Study Tips

Although 忮 is not included in the official HSK levels, understanding its nuances can help learners grasp the emotional complexity of related terms. Focus on how it connects to words associated with willfulness and aggression.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, stubbornness can be seen as both a virtue and a vice, depending on the context. For instance, the concept of 'sticking to one's guns' is often admired in traditional stories, but excessive stubbornness can lead to conflicts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 忮 with similar characters like 固 (gù), which means 'firm' or 'sturdy.' For example, saying '他很固' (tā hěn gù) to mean 'he is very stubborn' is incorrect; instead, use '他很忮' (tā hěn zhì).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 忮

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Etymology of 忮

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

heart

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 忮?

Decomposition of 忮

IDS Structure⿰忄支
Full Character
=
xin1
left
Zhi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 忮?

Write 忮

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

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Cultural Notes for 忮

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, stubbornness can be seen as both a virtue and a vice, depending on the context. For instance, the concept of 'sticking to one's guns' is often admired in traditional stories, but excessive stubbornness can lead to conflicts.

Word Family of 忮

Words Containing This Character1
zhìaggressive
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 忮 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 忮

Synonyms include 固执 (gùzhí) which means stubborn, and 倔强 (juéjiàng) which means obstinate.