Meanings of 慫
By ear
Play it, then pick what 慫 means.
About 慫
Podcast: 慫
Podcast: 慫
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 慫
煽 (shān) — use 慫 when the action is more about inciting negative behavior in others, while 煽 emphasizes stirring up emotions or passions.
慫 is typically used in informal contexts and can have a negative connotation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the tone 'sǒng' uses a third tone, which can change the meaning significantly. Common collocations include 慫恿 (sǒngyǒng), meaning to instigate or incite.
Though not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, 慫 can be connected to the HSK level 4 word 恐吓 (kǒnghè), meaning to intimidate, as both involve a sense of provoking others. Students should focus on recognizing the tone and understanding its negative connotations.
Learners often confuse 慫 with similar characters like 聪 (cōng), which means clever. For example, saying '他很慫' (Tā hěn sǒng) to mean 'He is very clever' is incorrect; it should be '他很聪明' (Tā hěn cōngmíng).
Pronunciation of 慫
Drill the tone of 慫 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 慫 to You
Let me explain 慫 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 慫 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 慫?
Learning Lab
Knowing 慫 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 慫
Phonosemantic compound. 心 represents the meaning and 从 represents the sound. Simplified form of 慫.
heart
Origin
慫 = 心 + 從. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 慫
Parts
Which of these is part of 慫?
How to say to arouse, to incite, to instigate in Chinese
“to arouse, to incite, to instigate” in Chinese is慫
The character 慫 (sǒng) means to arouse, incite, or instigate someone to take action, often in a negative or provoking manner. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is being pushed to behave in a way that may not be entirely appropriate or beneficial, such as instigating conflict or encouraging rash decisions.
When to use 慫
慫 is typically used in informal contexts and can have a negative connotation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the tone 'sǒng' uses a third tone, which can change the meaning significantly. Common collocations include 慫恿 (sǒngyǒng), meaning to instigate or incite.
慫 or something close to it
煽 (shān) — use 慫 when the action is more about inciting negative behavior in others, while 煽 emphasizes stirring up emotions or passions.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 慫 with similar characters like 聪 (cōng), which means clever. For example, saying '他很慫' (Tā hěn sǒng) to mean 'He is very clever' is incorrect; it should be '他很聪明' (Tā hěn cōngmíng).
Write 慫
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 慫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 慫?
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 300 AI credits.
Word Family of 慫
Words with 慫
What does 怂恿 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 慫
You can say '他在慫恿我做这个决定' (Tā zài sǒngyǒng wǒ zuò zhège juédìng), meaning 'He is instigating me to make this decision.'
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 慫?
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.