Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
瞎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
瞎
xiā
blind
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 目, rank #2404, Very Hard
瞎
xiā
groundlessly
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 目, rank #2404, Very Hard
瞎
xiā
foolishly
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 目, rank #2404, Very Hard
瞎
xiā
to no purpose
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 目, rank #2404, Very Hard
瞎
xiā
blind, reckless; rash
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 目, rank #2404, Very Hard
xiā(xia1)xia T1
1blind
2groundlessly
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
瞎xiā(xia1)
The character 瞎 (xiā) primarily means 'blind' or 'to be blind,' both in a literal and metaphorical sense. It is commonly used to describe actions done recklessly or without clear understanding, often suggesting foolishness or groundlessness in those actions.
Strokes15Radical目Frequency#2404DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, being 'blind' is often used metaphorically to describe someone who acts without insight or knowledge, which can be seen in traditional sayings and idioms that caution against rash behavior.
Memory tip
Imagine a person with their eyes covered (the character 瞎 looks like a pair of eyes with a 'blindfold') stumbling around and making foolish decisions. The 'xiā' sound can remind you of 'see,' which contrasts with being blind.
Meanings of 瞎
xiā(xia1)
1blind
2groundlessly
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 瞎 means.
About 瞎
瞎Simplified
15Strokes
目Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#2404Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 瞎
Podcast: 瞎
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 瞎
Quick Contrast
盲 (máng) refers specifically to 'blindness' in a literal sense, while 瞎 (xiā) carries additional connotations of recklessness or foolishness.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 瞎 with other characters that relate to sight, like 视 (shì, to see). It is often used in informal contexts and can be paired with terms like 瞎说 (xiā shuō, to talk nonsense) to emphasize foolishness. Remember that the tone is important; mispronouncing the tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 瞎 connects with other words relating to perception and understanding. Students should focus on how it can modify verbs to indicate actions taken without thought, such as in 瞎搞 (xiā gǎo, to mess around foolishly).
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 瞎 by applying it in overly formal contexts, such as in academic writing. For example, saying 瞎的研究 (xiā de yánjiū) is incorrect; instead, use a more formal term like 无知的 (wúzhī de, ignorant).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 瞎
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 瞎, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 瞎 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 瞎?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 瞎 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.
The character 瞎 (xiā) primarily means 'blind' or 'to be blind,' both in a literal and metaphorical sense. It is commonly used to describe actions done recklessly or without clear understanding, often suggesting foolishness or groundlessness in those actions.
When to use 瞎
Be careful not to confuse 瞎 with other characters that relate to sight, like 视 (shì, to see). It is often used in informal contexts and can be paired with terms like 瞎说 (xiā shuō, to talk nonsense) to emphasize foolishness. Remember that the tone is important; mispronouncing the tone can change the meaning entirely.
瞎 or something close to it
盲 (máng) refers specifically to 'blindness' in a literal sense, while 瞎 (xiā) carries additional connotations of recklessness or foolishness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 瞎 by applying it in overly formal contexts, such as in academic writing. For example, saying 瞎的研究 (xiā de yánjiū) is incorrect; instead, use a more formal term like 无知的 (wúzhī de, ignorant).
Write 瞎
瞎
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 瞎 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 瞎
瞎 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 5 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.
由于揭露此事，他被女神赫拉弄____了眼。
For this revelation he was struck blind by the goddess Hera.
Common confusions with 瞎
瞎vs瞧
qiáo
Similar sound but different meaning.
瞎vs霞
xiá
Similar pronunciation but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “blind”?
or
Example sentences for 瞎 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
由于揭露此事，他被女神赫拉弄瞎了眼。
yóuyú jiēlù cǐshì， tā bèi nǚ shén hè lā nòng xiā le yǎn。
For this revelation he was struck blind by the goddess Hera.
