unknown, 12 strokes, radical 忄, rank #46542, Very Hard
huáng(huang2) T2
1anxious, nervous, uneasy
2frightened
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March 24, 2026
惶huáng(huang2)
The character 惶 (huáng) conveys feelings of anxiety, nervousness, and unease. It is often used to describe a state of being frightened or unsettled, particularly in situations that provoke fear or worry. You might encounter this term in contexts related to emotional distress or during stressful events.
Strokes12Radical忄Frequency#46542DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, expressing anxiety or fear is often seen as a sign of weakness, leading to a collective cultural emphasis on maintaining composure in stressful situations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person in a haunted house, their heart racing and feeling anxious (huáng sounds like 'hang' which you might do when scared). The radical 心 (heart) is present, emphasizing the emotional state associated with fear and nervousness.
Meanings of 惶
huáng(huang2)
1anxious, nervous, uneasy
2frightened
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 惶
惶Simplified
12Strokes
忄Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 惶
Podcast: 惶
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AI Study Notes for 惶
Quick Contrast
惶 (huáng) vs 恐 (kǒng) — use 惶 for anxiety and unease, while 恐 emphasizes fear and terror.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person in a haunted house, their heart racing and feeling anxious (huáng sounds like 'hang' which you might do when scared). The radical 心 (heart) is present, emphasizing the emotional state associated with fear and nervousness.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 惶 with similar characters that express fear or anxiety but have different nuances, such as 恐 (kǒng). This word is more formal and should be used in contexts where emotional distress is being discussed. Pay attention to tone; using the wrong tone can alter the meaning significantly.
HSK Study Tips
Although 惶 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it shares similar emotional themes with other HSK words like 怕 (pà - to fear) and 忧 (yōu - to worry). Students should focus on context and usage to differentiate between these words.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, expressing anxiety or fear is often seen as a sign of weakness, leading to a collective cultural emphasis on maintaining composure in stressful situations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 惶 with 恐 (kǒng) or 急 (jí) due to similar meanings. For example, saying '我感到恐' (Wǒ gǎndào kǒng) is incorrect; instead, use '我感到惶' (Wǒ gǎndào huáng).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 惶
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Grammar Patterns of 惶
惶 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
这些图片大肆渲染，会让一些比较年轻的读者们____恐不安。
The pictures were sensationalist and could seriously disturb younger readers.
Example Sentences for 惶 (6)
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1
这些图片大肆渲染，会让一些比较年轻的读者们惶恐不安。
zhè xiē tú piàn dà sì xuàn rǎn， ， huì ràng yī xiē bǐ jiào nián qīng de dú zhě mén huáng kǒng bù。
The pictures were sensationalist and could seriously disturb younger readers.
2
为什么人们对核能惶恐不安呢？
wéi shí mó rén mén duì hé néng huáng kǒng bù ān ne？
Feng Yun - ching asked nervously, sitting up with a start.
6
他目前在《新闻之夜》节目中的讲话搞得政客们惶恐不安。
tā mù qián zài《 《 xīn wén zhī》 yè 》 jié mù zhōng de jiǎng huà gǎo dé zhèng kè mén huáng kǒng。
He currently terrorises politicians and their ilk on "Newsnight"
Cultural Notes for 惶
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, expressing anxiety or fear is often seen as a sign of weakness, leading to a collective cultural emphasis on maintaining composure in stressful situations.
Word Family of 惶
Words Containing This Character11
惶恐terrified
惶huángfrightened
惊惶panic-stricken驚惶
惶惶alarmed
诚惶诚恐in fear and trepidation (idiom); in reverence before your majesty (court formula of humility)誠惶誠恐
惶惑anxious and perplexed
惶恐不安anxious
仓惶in a panic倉惶
惊惶失措to lose one's head out of fear (idiom)驚惶失措
凄惶distressed and terrified淒惶
张惶alarmed張惶
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 惶恐 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 惶
You might say '我感到惶恐' (Wǒ gǎndào huángkǒng) meaning 'I feel anxious'.
Yes, synonyms include 恐惧 (kǒngjù - fear) and 担心 (dānxīn - worry), but they may carry slightly different nuances.
