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戳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
戳
chuō
to pierce, to prick, to stab; stamp, seal
HSK 7, v, 18 strokes, radical 戈, rank #4617, Very Hard
戳
chuō
to jab
HSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, radical 戈, rank #4617, Very Hard
戳
chuō
to poke
HSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, radical 戈, rank #4617, Very Hard
戳
chuō
to sprain
HSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, radical 戈, rank #4617, Very Hard
戳
chuō
to blunt
HSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, radical 戈, rank #4617, Very Hard
戳
chuō
to fuck (vulgar)
HSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, radical 戈, rank #4617, Very Hard
戳
chuō
to stand sth upright
HSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, radical 戈, rank #4617, Very Hard
chuō(chuo1)chuo T1
1to pierce, to prick, to stab; stamp, seal
2to jab
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March 24, 2026
戳chuō(chuo1)
The character 戳 (chuō) primarily means 'to pierce' or 'to poke.' It is commonly used in contexts involving jabbing or pricking an object, such as with a stick or a sharp instrument. Additionally, it can refer to stamping or sealing documents, making it versatile in both physical and metaphorical senses.
Strokes18Radical戈Frequency#4617DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, stamping documents, especially with a personal seal, is a significant practice reflecting authority and authenticity. The act of '戳' often symbolizes the formal completion of an agreement.
Memory tip
Imagine a sharp stick (戈) piercing a balloon (戳) with a loud pop. The sound of 'chuō' is like the sudden burst, helping you remember that it means to jab or poke. The character contains the radical for weapon (戈), emphasizing its piercing nature.
Meanings of 戳
chuō(chuo1)
1to pierce, to prick, to stab; stamp, seal
2to jab
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 戳 means.
About 戳
戳Simplified
18Strokes
戈Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 戳
Podcast: 戳
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AI study notes for 戳
Quick Contrast
刺 (cì) - use 刺 when referring specifically to 'stab' or 'prick' with a sharp object, whereas 戳 emphasizes the action of poking or piercing without the connotation of a sharp point.
Usage Notes
When using 戳, be mindful of its informal and sometimes vulgar connotations in slang. Avoid using it in formal writing when referring to actions that can be interpreted as violent. Common collocations include 戳破 (to pierce through) and 戳指 (to poke with a finger).
HSK Study Tips
While 戳 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, its meaning connects with other actions like 刺 (cì, to stab) and 打 (dǎ, to hit), which are essential for beginners. Focus on using it in practical sentences to enhance your understanding of related actions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 戳 with 刺 (cì), which also means to stab but carries a more violent connotation. For example, saying 我戳了他 (I poked him) might be misinterpreted if the context suggests aggression; a better phrase would be 我轻轻戳了他 (I gently poked him).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 戳
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 戳 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.
戳 = 戈 + 翟. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 戳
IDS Structure⿰翟戈
戳Full character
=
翟Di2
left
戈Ge1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 戳?
How to say to pierce, to prick, to stab; stamp, seal in Chinese
“to pierce, to prick, to stab; stamp, seal” in Chinese is戳chuō
The character 戳 (chuō) primarily means 'to pierce' or 'to poke.' It is commonly used in contexts involving jabbing or pricking an object, such as with a stick or a sharp instrument. Additionally, it can refer to stamping or sealing documents, making it versatile in both physical and metaphorical senses.
When to use 戳
When using 戳, be mindful of its informal and sometimes vulgar connotations in slang. Avoid using it in formal writing when referring to actions that can be interpreted as violent. Common collocations include 戳破 (to pierce through) and 戳指 (to poke with a finger).
戳 or something close to it
刺 (cì) - use 刺 when referring specifically to 'stab' or 'prick' with a sharp object, whereas 戳 emphasizes the action of poking or piercing without the connotation of a sharp point.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 戳 with 刺 (cì), which also means to stab but carries a more violent connotation. For example, saying 我戳了他 (I poked him) might be misinterpreted if the context suggests aggression; a better phrase would be 我轻轻戳了他 (I gently poked him).
Write 戳
戳
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Practice writing 戳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 戳
戳 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 7 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.
