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怖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
怖
bù
terror
vg, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #26595, Very Hard
怖
bù
terrified
vg, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #26595, Very Hard
怖
bù
afraid
vg, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #26595, Very Hard
怖
bù
frightened
vg, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #26595, Very Hard
bù(bu4)bu T4
1terror
2terrified
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March 24, 2026
怖bù(bu4)
The character 怖 (bù) conveys feelings of terror or fear. It is often used to describe situations or experiences that provoke a strong sense of fright, whether in a literal or metaphorical sense. Common usage includes describing horror in stories, movies, or personal experiences that evoke dread.
Strokes8Radical忄Frequency#26595DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, horror films and ghost stories are popular, especially around festivals like the Hungry Ghost Festival, where themes of fear and the supernatural are prevalent. The use of 怖 in storytelling reflects the cultural fascination with ghosts and the afterlife.
Memory tip
Imagine a person with a big mouth, shouting in terror about something they see. The character 怖 has the radical for 'fear' (恐) combined with a shape that resembles a scared face. Picture this terrified person as they shout 'bù!' every time they feel scared, helping you remember the pronunciation.
Meanings of 怖
bù(bu4)
1terror
2terrified
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 怖
怖Simplified
8Strokes
忄Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#26595Frequency Rank
Podcast: 怖
Podcast: 怖
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AI study notes for 怖
Quick Contrast
恐 (kǒng) — use 怖 (bù) when emphasizing a strong, often visceral fear, while 恐 (kǒng) can imply a more general or abstract fear.
Usage Notes
While 怖 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, it is often found in literature or discussions about horror. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar terms; for example, 恐惧 (kǒngjù) is more about fear in a general sense rather than the shock associated with 怖. Additionally, ensure you pronounce the third tone correctly to avoid misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 怖 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary list, it can be useful for HSK 5 learners as they expand their vocabulary related to emotions and experiences. Students should focus on combining it with other words describing feelings or states to enhance their expressive capacity.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 怖 (bù) with 恐 (kǒng) and use them interchangeably, which can change the meaning. For instance, saying '我觉得这个人很恐' (Wǒ juédé zhège rén hěn kǒng) is incorrect; it should be '我觉得这个人很怖' (Wǒ juédé zhège rén hěn bù).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 怖
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Learning Lab
Knowing 怖 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.
怖 = 忄 + 布. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 怖
IDS Structure⿰忄布
怖Full character
=
忄xin1
left
布bu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 怖?
How to say terror in Chinese
“terror” in Chinese is怖bù
The character 怖 (bù) conveys feelings of terror or fear. It is often used to describe situations or experiences that provoke a strong sense of fright, whether in a literal or metaphorical sense. Common usage includes describing horror in stories, movies, or personal experiences that evoke dread.
When to use 怖
While 怖 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, it is often found in literature or discussions about horror. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar terms; for example, 恐惧 (kǒngjù) is more about fear in a general sense rather than the shock associated with 怖. Additionally, ensure you pronounce the third tone correctly to avoid misunderstandings.
怖 or something close to it
恐 (kǒng) — use 怖 (bù) when emphasizing a strong, often visceral fear, while 恐 (kǒng) can imply a more general or abstract fear.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 怖 (bù) with 恐 (kǒng) and use them interchangeably, which can change the meaning. For instance, saying '我觉得这个人很恐' (Wǒ juédé zhège rén hěn kǒng) is incorrect; it should be '我觉得这个人很怖' (Wǒ juédé zhège rén hěn bù).
Write 怖
怖
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Grammar patterns of 怖
怖 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. 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.
他经历的恐____事件在他脑海中刻下了深深的，或许是难以磨灭的印记。
The horrors he experienced are imprinted, perhaps indelibly, in his brain.
Example sentences for 怖 (10)
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1
他经历的恐怖事件在他脑海中刻下了深深的，或许是难以磨灭的印记。
tā jīnglì de kǒngbù shìjiàn zài tā nǎohǎi zhōng kè xià le shēnshēn de， huòxǔ shì nányǐ mó miè de yìn jì。
The horrors he experienced are imprinted, perhaps indelibly, in his brain.
2
人们还在给他们的孩子们讲那些恐怖女警察吓唬人的弱智故事吗？
rénmen hái zài gěi tāmen de háizi men jiǎng nàxiē kǒngbù nǚ jǐngchá xiàhu rén de ruò zhì gùshi ma？
Did people still tell their kids imbecilic scare stories about bogey policewomen?
People with claustrophobia have a horror of being trapped in the lift.
10
他的报告猛烈抨击了忠英派和共和军的恐怖组织。
tā de bàogào měngliè pēngjī le zhōng Yīng pài hé gòng hé jūn de kǒngbù zǔzhī。
His report was scathing about Loyalist and Republican terror groups.
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Word Family of 怖
Words containing this character8
恐怖kǒngbùterrible
恐怖主义kǒngbùzhǔyìterrorism恐怖主義
恐怖组织kǒngbùzǔzhīterrorist organization恐怖組織
怖bùterror
恐怖片kǒngbùpiànhorror movie
恐怖症kǒngbùzhèngphobia
白色恐怖báisèkǒngbùWhite Terror
恐怖主义者kǒngbùzhǔyìzhěterrorist恐怖主義者
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 怖
What does 恐怖 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 怖
You can say '我很怕这个电影，因为它太怖了' (Wǒ hěn pà zhège diànyǐng, yīnwèi tā tài bùle), which means 'I am very scared of this movie because it is too terrifying.'
It's less common in casual conversations and more often found in written language or when discussing fear in a serious context.
Yes, you can describe someone as 怖 if they evoke fear or are frightening in some way, but it's less common than using it for situations.
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