Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
暴bào(Bao4)
The character 暴 (bào) primarily conveys the idea of suddenness or violence. It is often used to describe actions that are brutal or cruel, as well as situations that occur abruptly. Common contexts include discussions of violent weather, aggressive behavior, or severe consequences.
Strokes15Radical日Frequency#4767DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature and film, characters that embody暴 often represent oppressive forces or tyrants, reflecting the cultural significance of justice and rebellion against cruelty.
Memory Tip
Imagine a storm (the '暴' in 暴风雨, bào fēng yǔ) that suddenly erupts, causing chaos and destruction. The left part of the character (夕) looks like a person shouting as the storm arrives, while the right part (暴) indicates the fierce nature of the event, helping you remember both its appearance and meaning.
Meanings of 暴
bào(Bao4)
1sudden
2violent
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 暴
暴Simplified
15Strokes
日Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4767Frequency Rank
Podcast: 暴
Podcast: 暴
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 暴
Quick Contrast
暴 (bào) vs 猛 (měng) — use 暴 for sudden or violent actions, while 猛 emphasizes ferocity or intensity.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a storm (the '暴' in 暴风雨, bào fēng yǔ) that suddenly erupts, causing chaos and destruction. The left part of the character (夕) looks like a person shouting as the storm arrives, while the right part (暴) indicates the fierce nature of the event, helping you remember both its appearance and meaning.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 暴 with similar-sounding characters like 脏 (zāng, dirty) or 忙 (máng, busy), which have different meanings. The character can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it often carries a negative connotation, so use it thoughtfully.
HSK Study Tips
Although 暴 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary list, it can be related to words like 暴力 (bàolì, violence) and 暴风 (bàofēng, storm). Focus on its usage in compound words and phrases to understand its connotations better.
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature and film, characters that embody暴 often represent oppressive forces or tyrants, reflecting the cultural significance of justice and rebellion against cruelty.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 暴 by applying it in contexts that require a more neutral or positive term. For example, saying 暴天气 (bào tiānqì) to mean 'fine weather' is incorrect; instead, use 好天气 (hǎo tiānqì).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 暴
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 暴 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Origin unclear. Possibly represents two hands (共) laying out rice (米) to dry under the sun (日), representing the meaning "dry out under the sun", now written as 曝.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 暴 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 暴
暴 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). 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.
A storm has made roads treacherous and knocked out power.
8
一队队防暴警察紧张待命。
yī duì duì fáng bào jǐng chá jǐn zhāng dài mìng。
Ranks of police in riot gear stood nervously by.
9
他朝他的兄弟吼叫，脖子上青筋暴突。
tā zhāo tā de xiōng dì hǒu jiào， ， bó zǐ shàng qīng jīn bào。
He shouted at his brother, his neck veins bulging.
10
他粗暴的外表下藏着一颗非常善良的心。
tā cū bào de wài biǎo xià cáng zháo yī kē fēi cháng shàn liáng de xīn。
His gruff exterior concealed one of the kindest hearts.
Cultural Notes for 暴
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese literature and film, characters that embody暴 often represent oppressive forces or tyrants, reflecting the cultural significance of justice and rebellion against cruelty.
Word Family of 暴
Compounds10
爆bao4to explode or burst
曝pu4to air
瀑bao4shower (rain)
儤
襮
嚗
懪
犦
鑤
鸔
Words Containing This Character20
暴力bàolìviolence
暴露bàolùto expose
暴bàosudden
风暴fēngbàostorm風暴
暴雨bàoyǔrainstorm
暴躁bàozàoirascible
粗暴cūbàorough
暴风雨bàofēngyǔrainstorm暴風雨
强暴violent強暴
暴徒bandit
暴动insurrection暴動
残暴brutal殘暴
暴利bàolìsudden huge profits
暴行savage act
暴跌(economics) to slump
暴涨to increase sharply暴漲
暴风storm wind暴風
暴君tyrant
暴风雪snowstorm暴風雪
暴乱riot暴亂
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 爆 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 暴
Both imply violence, but 暴 (bào) emphasizes suddenness and brutality, while 凶 (xiōng) often relates more to a threatening demeanor.
Generally, 暴 has negative connotations, usually associated with violence or cruelty, so it is rarely used in positive contexts.
Yes, 暴 (Bào) can also be a surname in China, though it is not among the most common.
