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怪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
怪
guài
bewildering
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #683, Hard
怪
guài
odd
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #683, Hard
怪
guài
strange
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #683, Hard
怪
guài
uncanny
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #683, Hard
怪
guài
devil
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #683, Hard
怪
guài
monster
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #683, Hard
怪
guài
to wonder at
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #683, Hard
怪
guài
to blame
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #683, Hard
怪
guài
quite
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #683, Hard
怪
guài
rather
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #683, Hard
怪
guài
unusual, strange, peculiar
HSK 5, v, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #683, Hard
guài(guai4)guai T4
1bewildering
2odd
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March 24, 2026
怪guài(guai4)
The character 怪 (guài) primarily means 'strange' or 'odd.' It is often used to describe something that is unusual or bewildering, and can also refer to a monster or devil in certain contexts. Additionally, it can function as a verb meaning 'to blame' or 'to wonder at,' making it versatile in various conversational settings.
Strokes8Radical忄Frequency#683DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of the '怪' often appears in folklore and ghost stories, reflecting a fascination with the supernatural. Festivals like the Ghost Festival highlight this connection, where tales of strange occurrences and spirits are commonly shared.
Memory tip
Imagine a strange monster (怪) lurking in the shadows, making you feel bewildered. The character has the radical 怖 (fear) on the left, which evokes the fear of encountering something odd or uncanny. Picture yourself saying 'guài' in surprise as you encounter this strange creature.
Meanings of 怪
guài(guai4)
1bewildering
2odd
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 怪
怪Simplified
8Strokes
忄Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#683Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 怪
Podcast: 怪
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AI study notes for 怪
Quick Contrast
怪 (guài) vs 奇怪 (qíguài) — use 怪 for a more general sense of 'strange' or 'odd,' while 奇怪 emphasizes an unusualness that provokes curiosity or surprise.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 怪 (guài) with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, but can be appropriate in storytelling. Common collocations include 怪物 (guàiwù, 'monster') and 怪事 (guàishì, 'strange matter'), which help convey its nuances effectively.
HSK Study Tips
While 怪 is not included in the official HSK levels, it relates well to foundational vocabulary in HSK 2 and 3 that deal with descriptions and emotions. Students should focus on using it in descriptive phrases to enhance their expressive capabilities.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 怪 with 奇怪 (qíguài), which specifically means 'strange' but carries a more negative connotation. For example, saying '这件事情很怪' (zhè jiàn shìqíng hěn guài) is correct, but one might mistakenly say '这件事情很奇怪' (zhè jiàn shìqíng hěn qíguài) when the intent was neutral.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 怪
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The character 怪 (guài) primarily means 'strange' or 'odd.' It is often used to describe something that is unusual or bewildering, and can also refer to a monster or devil in certain contexts. Additionally, it can function as a verb meaning 'to blame' or 'to wonder at,' making it versatile in various conversational settings.
When to use 怪
Be careful not to confuse 怪 (guài) with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, but can be appropriate in storytelling. Common collocations include 怪物 (guàiwù, 'monster') and 怪事 (guàishì, 'strange matter'), which help convey its nuances effectively.
怪 or something close to it
怪 (guài) vs 奇怪 (qíguài) — use 怪 for a more general sense of 'strange' or 'odd,' while 奇怪 emphasizes an unusualness that provokes curiosity or surprise.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 怪 with 奇怪 (qíguài), which specifically means 'strange' but carries a more negative connotation. For example, saying '这件事情很怪' (zhè jiàn shìqíng hěn guài) is correct, but one might mistakenly say '这件事情很奇怪' (zhè jiàn shìqíng hěn qíguài) when the intent was neutral.
Write 怪
怪
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Grammar patterns of 怪
怪 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 11 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.
The allegations ranged from the banal to the bizarre.
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Cultural Notes for 怪
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, the term '怪' can also refer to supernatural beings or spirits, often appearing in folklore and stories. These beings are sometimes feared, but they also reflect the cultural fascination with the unknown.
📜Proverb
There's a Chinese saying, '怪人多怪事', which means 'strange people often have strange stories'. It reflects the idea that unusual individuals can lead to unexpected and fascinating experiences.
Word Family of 怪
Words containing this character20
怪guàiodd
奇怪qíguàistrange
怪物guàiwumonster
难怪nánguài(it's) no wonder (that...)難怪
古怪gǔguàieccentric
怪异guàiyìmonstrous怪異
怪不得guàibudeno wonder!
怪兽guàishòurare animal怪獸
怪人guàiréneccentric
责怪zéguàito blame責怪
妖怪yāoguàimonster
怪胎guàitāifreak
怪事guàishìstrange thing
大惊小怪dàjīngxiǎoguàito make a fuss about nothing (idiom)大驚小怪
怪圈guàiquānvicious circle
怪罪guàizuìto blame
作怪zuòguàito act up
怪癖guàipǐeccentricity
见怪不怪jiànguàibúguàinot to wonder at strange sights見怪不怪
鬼怪guǐguàihobgoblin
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 怪
What does 奇怪 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 怪
Common phrases that include 怪 are '怪不得' (guài bù dé), meaning 'no wonder,' and '怪物' (guài wù), meaning 'monster.' These phrases showcase the versatility of the character in expressing feelings or descriptions related to oddness or strangeness.
怪 (guài) and 奇怪 (qíguài) both mean 'strange' in Chinese, but they have subtle differences. 怪 tends to imply something more unsettling or uncanny, while 奇怪 carries a nuance of being curious or perplexing. Understanding the context will help in choosing the correct term.
怪 (guài) means strange, odd, or bewildering in Chinese. It can also refer to something uncanny or to a monster. The character is often used to describe things that are unusual or out of the ordinary.
怪 (guài) can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, you could say '这件事很怪' (zhè jiàn shì hěn guài), which means 'This matter is very strange.' It is often used to express surprise or confusion about something unusual.
While it is primarily informal, it can be used in storytelling or artistic contexts where the strangeness of a situation is emphasized.
Not necessarily; it can describe something unusual in a neutral or even positive light, depending on the context.
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