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愤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
愤
fèn
indignant
v, 12 strokes, radical 忄, rank #15717, Very Hard
愤
fèn
anger
v, 12 strokes, radical 忄, rank #15717, Very Hard
愤
fèn
resentment
v, 12 strokes, radical 忄, rank #15717, Very Hard
愤
fèn
anger, indignation; to hate, to resent
v, 12 strokes, radical 忄, rank #15717, Very Hard
fèn(fen4)fen T4
1indignant
2anger
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
愤(憤)fèn(fen4)
The character 愤 (fèn) conveys feelings of anger, indignation, or resentment. It is commonly used in contexts where someone feels wronged or upset about an injustice, and can also imply a strong emotional response to negative situations. This character captures both the emotion itself and the act of expressing that anger.
Strokes12Radical忄Frequency#15717DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, expressing anger is often viewed through a lens of social harmony, making the term 愤 particularly relevant in discussions about injustice or societal issues. This character might be encountered in literature addressing themes of rebellion or social critique.
Memory tip
Imagine a person feeling so angry that they can't contain their emotions and instead 'fèn' (pronounced like 'fen') starts to boil over like a pot of water. The left side of the character is the radical for 'feeling' or 'emotion' (忄), while the right part suggests the intensity of that feeling, helping you visualize how strong anger can be.
Meanings of 愤
fèn(fen4)
1indignant
2anger
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 愤 means.
About 愤
愤Simplified
憤Traditional
12Strokes
忄Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#15717Frequency Rank
Podcast: 愤
Podcast: 愤
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AI study notes for 愤
Quick Contrast
愤 (fèn) vs 怒 (nù) — use 愤 when expressing indignation over perceived injustice, while 怒 is more general for anger.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 愤 with similar characters like 怒 (nù), which also means anger but carries a slightly different nuance. This term is more formal and often used in written contexts, so it may not be appropriate in casual spoken conversation. Pay attention to the tone; using a flat tone on this character can change its meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Though not included in the HSK levels, understanding 愤 can help students grasp the emotional vocabulary often found in literature and formal discussions. Focus on its usage in phrases like 愤怒 (fènnù, anger) and how it combines with other words to express complex feelings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 愤 with other anger-related words. For example, saying '我很愤怒' (wǒ hěn fèn) instead of '我很愤怒' (wǒ hěn fènnù) is incorrect; you should always use the correct collocation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 愤
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 愤 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.
愤 = 忄 + 贲. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 愤
IDS Structure⿰忄贲
愤Full character
=
忄xin1
left
贲Ben1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 愤?
How to say indignant in Chinese
“indignant” in Chinese is愤fèn
The character 愤 (fèn) conveys feelings of anger, indignation, or resentment. It is commonly used in contexts where someone feels wronged or upset about an injustice, and can also imply a strong emotional response to negative situations. This character captures both the emotion itself and the act of expressing that anger.
When to use 愤
Common mistakes include confusing 愤 with similar characters like 怒 (nù), which also means anger but carries a slightly different nuance. This term is more formal and often used in written contexts, so it may not be appropriate in casual spoken conversation. Pay attention to the tone; using a flat tone on this character can change its meaning.
愤 or something close to it
愤 (fèn) vs 怒 (nù) — use 愤 when expressing indignation over perceived injustice, while 怒 is more general for anger.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 愤 with other anger-related words. For example, saying '我很愤怒' (wǒ hěn fèn) instead of '我很愤怒' (wǒ hěn fènnù) is incorrect; you should always use the correct collocation.
Write 愤
愤
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Practice writing 愤 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 愤
愤 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.
“你什么意思啊？”我问，替利迪感到____愤不平。
"What do you mean?" I asked, offended on Liddie's behalf.
