Meanings of 悶
By ear
Play it, then pick what 悶 means.
About 悶
Podcast: 悶
Podcast: 悶
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 悶
闷 (mèn) refers to a similar feeling of being stifled or bored but often emphasizes a physical sensation of suffocation, while 悶 (mèn) leans more towards emotional heaviness or melancholy.
Use 悶 in both spoken and written Chinese to express feelings of sadness or boredom. Be careful not to confuse it with 忙 (máng), which means busy; the tones and contexts are different. Common collocations include 悶得慌 (mèn dé huāng) meaning 'to feel stifled'.
Though not part of the official HSK vocabulary, 悶 can connect with HSK Level 3 words like 心情 (xīnqíng, mood) and 悲伤 (bēishāng, sadness). Focus on recognizing its usage in emotional contexts.
Learners often confuse 悶 (mèn) with 闷 (also mèn), which is used more for physical suffocation or stuffiness. For example, saying '我觉得闷' when feeling sad is incorrect; it should be '我觉得悶'.
Pronunciation of 悶
Drill the tone of 悶, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 悶 to you
Let me explain 悶 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 悶 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 悶?
Learning Lab
Knowing 悶 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.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Etymology of 悶
Phonosemantic compound. 心 represents the meaning and 门 represents the sound. Simplified form of 悶.
heart
Origin
悶 = 心 + 門. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 悶
Parts
Which of these is part of 悶?
How to say gloomy, depressed, melancholy in Chinese
“gloomy, depressed, melancholy” in Chinese is悶
The character 悶 (mèn) conveys feelings of gloominess or depression. It is commonly used to describe a state of mental heaviness or melancholy, often resulting from boredom or unexpressed emotions. In conversational contexts, it can also refer to feeling stifled or suffocated, both emotionally and physically.
When to use 悶
Use 悶 in both spoken and written Chinese to express feelings of sadness or boredom. Be careful not to confuse it with 忙 (máng), which means busy; the tones and contexts are different. Common collocations include 悶得慌 (mèn dé huāng) meaning 'to feel stifled'.
悶 or something close to it
闷 (mèn) refers to a similar feeling of being stifled or bored but often emphasizes a physical sensation of suffocation, while 悶 (mèn) leans more towards emotional heaviness or melancholy.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 悶 (mèn) with 闷 (also mèn), which is used more for physical suffocation or stuffiness. For example, saying '我觉得闷' when feeling sad is incorrect; it should be '我觉得悶'.
Write 悶
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 悶 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 悶?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Word Family of 悶
Words with 悶
What does 郁闷 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 悶
You can say '我今天感到很悶' (Wǒ jīntiān gǎndào hěn mèn), meaning 'I feel very gloomy today.'
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 悶?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.