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慝 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
慝tèan evil thought; sin, vicezg, 14 strokes, radical 心
慝tèevil thoughtunknown, 14 strokes, radical 心
tè(te4)te T4
  1. 1an evil thought; sin, vice
  2. 2evil thought
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March 24, 2026

慝tè(te4)

The character 慝 (tè) refers to an evil thought or a sinful nature, often associated with malice or wickedness. It is commonly used in contexts discussing moral failings or negative intentions, often in philosophical or literary discussions about virtue and vice.

Strokes14Radical心
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of moral integrity is highly valued, and discussions of 慝 often arise in the context of Confucian teachings about virtue and vice. The character reflects the society's emphasis on self-cultivation and moral responsibility.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 't' for 'thought' with a heart (心) inside it that has a dark shadow over it, symbolizing an evil thought. The character 慝 combines the heart radical (心) with the concept of evil, reminding you that these wicked ideas originate from within.

Meanings of 慝

tè(te4)
1an evil thought; sin, vice
2evil thought
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 慝

慝Simplified
14Strokes
心Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 慝

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Podcast: 慝

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AI Study Notes for 慝

Quick Contrast

恶 (è) - use 恶 for general badness or evil acts, while 慝 specifically refers to evil thoughts or a sinful nature.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 慝 with similar-sounding words that have positive meanings. This term is quite formal and may be more common in literary or philosophical texts rather than everyday conversation. Common collocations include phrases discussing morality and ethics.

HSK Study Tips

Though not part of the HSK curriculum, 慝 can deepen your understanding of moral vocabulary. Focus on its connection to words related to morality like 善 (shàn, good) and 恶 (è, evil), enhancing your ability to discuss ethical themes.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 慝 with 恶 (è), which means 'evil' but is more general. For example, saying '我有慝的想法' (I have evil thoughts) may be more correctly expressed as '我有恶的想法' for clarity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 慝

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Etymology of 慝

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

To hide 匿 evil in one's heart 心

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 慝?

Decomposition of 慝

IDS Structure⿱匿心
慝Full Character
=
匿ni4
top
心xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 慝?

How to say an evil thought; sin, vice in Chinese

“an evil thought; sin, vice” in Chinese is慝tè

The character 慝 (tè) refers to an evil thought or a sinful nature, often associated with malice or wickedness. It is commonly used in contexts discussing moral failings or negative intentions, often in philosophical or literary discussions about virtue and vice.

When to use 慝

Be careful not to confuse 慝 with similar-sounding words that have positive meanings. This term is quite formal and may be more common in literary or philosophical texts rather than everyday conversation. Common collocations include phrases discussing morality and ethics.

慝 or something close to it

恶 (è) - use 恶 for general badness or evil acts, while 慝 specifically refers to evil thoughts or a sinful nature.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 慝 with 恶 (è), which means 'evil' but is more general. For example, saying '我有慝的想法' (I have evil thoughts) may be more correctly expressed as '我有恶的想法' for clarity.

Write 慝

慝

Practice writing 慝 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 慝

Words Containing This Character1
慝tèevil thought

Frequently Asked Questions about 慝

No, it is more frequently found in literary or philosophical contexts.

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