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March 24, 2026
惧(懼)jù(ju4)
The character 惧 (jù) means 'to fear' or 'to dread.' It is commonly used in contexts where someone feels apprehension or anxiety about something, such as a situation, person, or event. This word conveys a stronger sense of fear, often associated with significant concern or dread.
Strokes11Radical忄Frequency#13976DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, fear is often linked to supernatural beliefs. For instance, many people express 惧 for spirits or ghosts, especially during the Ghost Festival, where respect for ancestors and the fear of the unknown come to the forefront.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person standing at the edge of a cliff, looking down with a jolt of fear. The character 惧 has the radical '忄' (heart) on the left, suggesting that fear is an emotional response of the heart. The right side is '句' (sentence), which could remind you of the saying, 'I fear what I cannot express in words.' Together, they symbolize the heart's reaction to frightening situations.
Meanings of 惧
jù(ju4)
1to fear
2to fear, to dread
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 惧
惧Simplified
懼Traditional
11Strokes
忄Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#13976Frequency Rank
Podcast: 惧
Podcast: 惧
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AI Study Notes for 惧
Quick Contrast
惧 (jù) vs 怕 (pà) — use 惧 for a stronger sense of dread compared to 怕, which conveys a more general fear.
Usage Notes
Avoid confusing 惧 with lighter terms for fear like 害怕 (hàipà) or 担心 (dānxīn). 惧 is more formal and often used in literary or serious contexts. Be mindful of pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can change meaning; make sure to use the fourth tone correctly.
HSK Study Tips
Though not an HSK level word, 惧 connects with other emotional vocabulary like 恐惧 (kǒngjù – to be afraid) and 害怕 (hàipà – to be scared). Students should focus on understanding emotional nuances and tones in these related words to express fear accurately.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 惧 in casual situations, where 害怕 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我惧这个考试' (Wǒ jù zhège kǎoshì – I fear this exam) sounds overly formal; '我害怕这个考试' (Wǒ hàipà zhège kǎoshì) is more natural.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 惧
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Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 具 represents the sound. Simplified form of 懼.
1The meaning half忄 carries the sense.
2The sound half具 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayheart
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 惧? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 惧?
Decomposition of 惧
IDS Structure⿰忄具
惧Full Character
=
忄xin1
left
具ju4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 惧?
How to say to fear in Chinese
“to fear” in Chinese is惧jù
The character 惧 (jù) means 'to fear' or 'to dread.' It is commonly used in contexts where someone feels apprehension or anxiety about something, such as a situation, person, or event. This word conveys a stronger sense of fear, often associated with significant concern or dread.
When to use 惧
Avoid confusing 惧 with lighter terms for fear like 害怕 (hàipà) or 担心 (dānxīn). 惧 is more formal and often used in literary or serious contexts. Be mindful of pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can change meaning; make sure to use the fourth tone correctly.
惧 or something close to it
惧 (jù) vs 怕 (pà) — use 惧 for a stronger sense of dread compared to 怕, which conveys a more general fear.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 惧 in casual situations, where 害怕 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我惧这个考试' (Wǒ jù zhège kǎoshì – I fear this exam) sounds overly formal; '我害怕这个考试' (Wǒ hàipà zhège kǎoshì) is more natural.
Write 惧
惧
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Grammar Patterns of 惧
惧 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 2 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.
