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昏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
昏
hūn
muddle-headed
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 日, rank #4132, Very Hard
昏
hūn
twilight
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 日, rank #4132, Very Hard
昏
hūn
to faint
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 日, rank #4132, Very Hard
昏
hūn
to lose consciousness
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 日, rank #4132, Very Hard
昏
hūn
dusk, nightfall, twilight, dark; to faint, to lose consciousness
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 日, rank #4132, Very Hard
昏
hūn
old variant of 昏[hūn]
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 日, rank #4132, Very Hard
hūn(hun1)hun T1
1muddle-headed
2twilight
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March 24, 2026
昏hūn(hun1)
The character 昏 (hūn) primarily refers to a state of confusion or muddle-headedness. It can also denote twilight or the period of dusk when the day transitions to night. This word is commonly used in contexts related to losing consciousness or being in a state of disorientation.
Strokes8Radical日Frequency#4132DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of twilight or dusk (as represented by 昏) often symbolizes transition and reflection, as it is a time when day turns into night, evoking themes present in poetry and art.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'hungry' person (sounds like 'hūn') who is so tired and confused that they can hardly think straight at twilight. The character 昏 looks like a person (the top part) overwhelmed by the setting sun (the bottom part), symbolizing how exhaustion can cloud your mind.
Meanings of 昏
hūn(hun1)
1muddle-headed
2twilight
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 昏
昏Simplified
8Strokes
日Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4132Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 昏
Podcast: 昏
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AI study notes for 昏
Quick Contrast
昏 (hūn) vs 迷 (mí) — use 昏 for confusion related to disorientation or twilight, while 迷 refers to being lost or confused in understanding.
Usage Notes
Be cautious of the context in which you use 昏, as it can indicate both physical states (like fainting) and mental states (like confusion). It is primarily used in informal contexts, so avoid it in formal writing. Common collocations include phrases like '昏迷' (hūn mí - to faint) or '昏暗' (hūn àn - dim or dark).
HSK Study Tips
Although 昏 is not included in the official HSK levels, it relates to vocabulary around emotions and physical states, which are common in conversational Chinese. Focus on understanding its implications in different contexts, as well as its overlap with related terms like 晕 (yūn - dizzy).
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 昏 with similar characters, like 暗 (àn - dark), leading to sentences like '天昏' (tiān hūn - 'the sky is dark'), which should instead be '天暗' (tiān àn). Remember, 昏 is more about the state of being confused or the time of day.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 昏
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The character 昏 (hūn) primarily refers to a state of confusion or muddle-headedness. It can also denote twilight or the period of dusk when the day transitions to night. This word is commonly used in contexts related to losing consciousness or being in a state of disorientation.
When to use 昏
Be cautious of the context in which you use 昏, as it can indicate both physical states (like fainting) and mental states (like confusion). It is primarily used in informal contexts, so avoid it in formal writing. Common collocations include phrases like '昏迷' (hūn mí - to faint) or '昏暗' (hūn àn - dim or dark).
昏 or something close to it
昏 (hūn) vs 迷 (mí) — use 昏 for confusion related to disorientation or twilight, while 迷 refers to being lost or confused in understanding.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 昏 with similar characters, like 暗 (àn - dark), leading to sentences like '天昏' (tiān hūn - 'the sky is dark'), which should instead be '天暗' (tiān àn). Remember, 昏 is more about the state of being confused or the time of day.
Write 昏
昏
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Grammar patterns of 昏
昏 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 6 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.
He had not expected the young man to reappear before evening.
9
他不停地想太疼了，他会疼昏过去了。
tā bùtíng dì xiǎng tài téng le， tā huì téng hūn guòqù le。
He kept thinking the pain was such that he would faint.
10
即便在昏暗的光线下，那台设备也显得陈旧不堪。
jíbiàn zài hūn àn de guāngxiàn xià， nà tái shèbèi yě xiǎnde chénjiù bùkān。
Even in the dim light the equipment looked old and time-worn.
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Cultural Notes for 昏
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
The notion of twilight as a time of confusion or reflection is less emphasized in Western cultures, where dusk is often simply seen as the end of the day without the same emotional connotations.
Word Family of 昏
Compounds17
婚hūnto marry
崏mín
惛hūnconfused, forgetful; senile; stupid
殙hūn
痻mín
碈hūn
緍mín
阍hūngatekeeper; gate, door
惽mǐn
捪mín
棔hūn
涽hūn
焝hùn
琘mín
睧hūn
諙huà
錉mín
Words containing this character20
昏迷hūnmístupor
昏hūntwilight
黄昏huánghūndusk黃昏
昏倒hūndǎoto faint
昏暗hūn’àndusky
昏睡hūnshuìsleep
头昏tóuhūndizzy頭昏
昏迷不醒hūnmíbùxǐngto remain unconscious
昏昏欲睡hūnhūnyùshuìdrowsy
昏厥hūnjuéto faint
昏昏沉沉hūnhūnchénchéndizzy
发昏fāhūnto faint發昏
昏天黑地hūntiānhēidìfig. pitch dark
头昏脑胀tóuhūnnǎozhànggiddy頭昏腦脹
冲昏头脑chōnghūntóunǎoto go to one's head沖昏頭腦
头昏眼花tóuhūnyǎnhuāto faint with blurred vision (idiom); dizzy and eyes dimmed頭昏眼花
昏庸hūnyōngmuddleheaded
昏沉hūnchénmurky
昏君hūnjūnincapable ruler
昏花hūnhuādim (eyesight)
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 昏
What does 婚 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 昏
In addition to 'twilight,' 昏 can describe someone who is fainting or confused, depending on the context.
No, 昏 is generally used in informal contexts; in formal writing, consider using more specific terms.
Yes, it can describe a state of confusion or muddle-headedness related to emotions or mental clarity.
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