to bump into, to collide, to hit, to knock against
HSK 5, v, 15 strokes, radical 扌, rank #959, Hard
zhuàng(zhuang4) T4
1to hit
2to strike
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March 24, 2026
撞zhuàng(zhuang4)
The character 撞 (zhuàng) primarily means 'to hit' or 'to collide.' It is commonly used in contexts involving physical impact, such as in traffic accidents or when two objects come into contact. Additionally, it can imply a chance encounter or meeting someone unexpectedly.
Strokes15Radical扌Frequency#959DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of an unexpected meeting or '撞见' often carries a sense of fate or destiny, reflecting the belief that chance encounters can have significant implications in one's life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'drum' (the radical '撞' looks like a drum being struck) that you accidentally bump into while walking. The sound of the drum represents the action of hitting, which connects to the pronunciation 'zhuàng'. Visualize yourself 'zhuàng'-ing into it!
Meanings of 撞
zhuàng(zhuang4)
1to hit
2to strike
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 撞
撞Simplified
15Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#959Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 撞
Podcast: 撞
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AI Study Notes for 撞
Quick Contrast
撞 (zhuàng) vs 碰 (pèng) — use 撞 for forceful collisions, while 碰 is for lighter touches or contacts.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'drum' (the radical '撞' looks like a drum being struck) that you accidentally bump into while walking. The sound of the drum represents the action of hitting, which connects to the pronunciation 'zhuàng'. Visualize yourself 'zhuàng'-ing into it!
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; 'zhuàng' is pronounced with a falling tone, which can change the meaning if mispronounced. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, such as '撞车' (to collide with a car) or '撞见' (to run into someone). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, '撞' connects well with other verbs related to physical actions, such as '打' (to hit) and '碰' (to touch). Focus on its usage in different contexts, especially in phrases related to accidents or unexpected meetings.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of an unexpected meeting or '撞见' often carries a sense of fate or destiny, reflecting the belief that chance encounters can have significant implications in one's life.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '撞' with '碰' (pèng), both meaning to hit or bump against; however, '撞' implies a more forceful impact. For example, saying '我碰了她' (I bumped her) instead of '我撞了她' (I hit her) can misrepresent the intensity of the action.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 撞
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Grammar Patterns of 撞
撞 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.
A lorry travelling south had a blow-out and crashed.
6
他拼命地闪身躲开一辆试图撞倒他的疾驰的汽车。
tā pīn mìng dì shǎn shēn duǒ kāi yī liàng shì tú zhuàng dǎo tā de jí chí de qì chē。
He desperately dodged a speeding car trying to run him down.
7
他们的轿车和一辆铰接式货车迎面相撞了。
tā mén de jiào chē hé yī liàng jiǎo jiē shì huò chē yíng miàn xiāng zhuàng le。
Their car was in a head-on smash with an articulated lorry.
8
当地的居民看见它伴着一声震耳欲聋的巨响撞向地面。
dāng dì de jū mín kàn jiàn tā bàn zháo yī shēng zhèn ěr yù lóng de jù xiǎng zhuàng xiàng dì miàn。
Local residents saw it plunge towards Earth with a deafening roar.
9
为避免相撞而刹车时，他听到了轮胎与地面刺耳的摩擦声。
wéi bì miǎn xiāng zhuàng ér chà chē shí， ， tā tīng dào le lún tāi yǔ dì miàn cì ěr de mó cā。
He heard tires squeal as the car braked to avoid a collision.
10
他给火车撞伤，失去了一只脚。
tā gěi huǒ chē zhuàng shāng， ， shī qù le yī zhī。
He lost a foot when he was struck by a train.
Cultural Notes for 撞
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of an unexpected meeting or '撞见' often carries a sense of fate or destiny, reflecting the belief that chance encounters can have significant implications in one's life.
Word Family of 撞
Words Containing This Character20
撞zhuàngto bump into
碰撞pèngzhuàngto collide
撞击zhuàngjīto strike撞擊
相撞collision
撞车to crash (into another car)撞車
撞倒to knock down
撞见to meet by accident撞見
冲撞chōngzhuàngto collide衝撞
撞死to run over sb
莽撞rude and impetuous
撞伤bruise撞傷
跌跌撞撞to stagger along
横冲直撞to barge橫衝直撞
顶撞to contradict (elders or superiors)頂撞
撞针firing pin撞針
撞毁to smash撞毀
误打误撞accidentally誤打誤撞
对撞to collide對撞
对撞机a particle collider對撞機
撞球billiards
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 撞 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 撞
Some common phrases with 撞 include '撞车' (zhuàngchē), which means 'car accident', and '撞见' (zhuàngjiàn), which means 'to run into someone unexpectedly.' These phrases help convey different situations where the action of bumping or striking is involved.
撞 (zhuàng) typically refers to bumping into something or someone, while 打 (dǎ) usually means to hit or strike with force. While both can imply an action of impact, 撞 is more about collision, and 打 can refer to a broader range of hitting actions, such as hitting a person or an object.
撞 (zhuàng) means to knock against or bump into something. It can also refer to running into someone by accident or striking an object. This verb is commonly used in various contexts, such as describing accidents or unexpected encounters.
You can use 撞 (zhuàng) in sentences to describe an action where something comes into contact with another object. For example, '我不小心撞到了桌子' means 'I accidentally bumped into the table.' This verb can also be used in phrases like '撞见' (zhuàngjiàn), meaning 'to run into someone.'
'我在街上撞见了我的老朋友' means 'I ran into my old friend on the street.'
'撞' can also refer to non-physical meetings, such as running into someone unexpectedly.
'撞车' (car collision) and '撞见' (to meet by chance) are frequently used.
