Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
聵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
kuìdeafx, 18 strokes, radical 耳, Very Hard
kuì(kui4) T4
  1. 1deaf
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

kuì(kui4)

The character 聵 (kuì) means 'deaf' in Mandarin. It is used to describe a lack of hearing ability, and can be applied in both medical contexts and everyday discussions about auditory impairments. This character emphasizes the state of not being able to hear sounds or noises.

Strokes18RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, there's a significant focus on social integration, and deafness can often lead to discussions about accessibility and education for the hearing impaired. The word 聵 can be part of broader conversations about inclusivity in society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person with ears (耳) that are closed tightly, represented by the sound 'kuì' which is similar to the word 'quiet'. This imagery connects the idea of silence and being unable to hear, as if the ears are shut off from the world.

Meanings of 聵

kuì(kui4)
1deaf
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 聵

Simplified
18Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 聵

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 聵

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person with ears (耳) that are closed tightly, represented by the sound 'kuì' which is similar to the word 'quiet'. This imagery connects the idea of silence and being unable to hear, as if the ears are shut off from the world.

Usage Notes

A common mistake is to confuse 聵 (kuì) with 听 (tīng), which means 'to listen'. 聵 is more formal and less commonly used in everyday language, so it's best suited for written contexts, such as medical reports. Be careful with tone pronunciation; 'kuì' is pronounced with a falling tone, which is crucial for clarity.

HSK Study Tips

Although 聵 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of related terms in the context of disabilities or sensory impairments. Focus on recognizing the character's components, especially the phonetic radical, to aid with pronunciation.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, there's a significant focus on social integration, and deafness can often lead to discussions about accessibility and education for the hearing impaired. The word 聵 can be part of broader conversations about inclusivity in society.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 聵 (kuì) with 聋 (lóng), which is a more frequently used term for 'deaf'. For example, saying '他是聵的' instead of '他是聋的' would be incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 聵

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 聵

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

ear

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 聵?

Decomposition of 聵

IDS Structure⿰耳貴
Full Character
=
er3
left
gui4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 聵?

Write 聵

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 聵

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, there's a significant focus on social integration, and deafness can often lead to discussions about accessibility and education for the hearing impaired. The word 聵 can be part of broader conversations about inclusivity in society.

Word Family of 聵

Words Containing This Character4
振聋发聩lit. so loud that even the deaf can hear (idiom); rousing even the apathetic振聾發聵
kuìdeaf
昏聩muddle-headed昏聵
发聋振聩lit. so loud that even the deaf can hear (idiom); rousing even the apathetic發聾振聵
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 振聋发聩 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 聵

In everyday conversation, people might use the phrase 听不见 (tīng bù jiàn), which means 'cannot hear', rather than the formal 聵.