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中毒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
中毒zhòngdúto be poisonedHSK 6, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #5215, Hard
中毒zhòngdúpoisoningHSK 6, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #5215, Hard
zhòngdú(zhong4du2)zhong du T4
  1. 1to be poisoned
  2. 2poisoning
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March 24, 2026

中毒zhòngdú(zhong4du2)

中毒 (zhòngdú) means 'to be poisoned' or 'poisoning.' It is commonly used in medical contexts to describe the effects of toxic substances on the body. This term can refer to both accidental poisoning and intentional poisoning in various situations.

Strokes13Frequency#5215DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, discussions about poisoning can often be associated with traditional medicine and herbal remedies. Understanding this term is important for recognizing the serious implications of food safety and health.

Memory Tip

Think of 中 (middle) as being in the middle of a dangerous situation, and 毒 (poison) as a toxic substance. Imagine a person caught in the middle of a toxic cloud, gasping for air, which helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 中毒

zhòngdú(zhong4du2)
1to be poisoned
2poisoning
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About 中毒

中毒Simplified
13Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 中毒

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Podcast: 中毒

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AI Study Notes for 中毒

Quick Contrast

中毒 (zhòngdú) vs 毒 (dú) — use 中毒 to describe the action of being poisoned, while 毒 refers to the poison itself.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone, as 中 (zhòng) and 毒 (dú) are both pronounced with the fourth tone. This word is typically used in more formal contexts, such as medical discussions, rather than casual conversations. Common collocations include '中毒事件' (poisoning incident) and '中毒反应' (poisoning reaction).

HSK Study Tips

While 中毒 itself is not an HSK word, it connects to HSK level 4 vocabulary related to health and safety. Focus on understanding how this term fits into discussions about health risks and emergency situations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 中毒 with 中介 (zhōngjiè), which means 'intermediary' or 'agent.' Remember that 中毒 specifically refers to poisoning. Another mistake is mispronouncing the tones; ensure you pronounce 中 with a falling tone and 毒 with a rising tone.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 中毒

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Component Characters

中zhōngmiddle
HSK 34 strokes丨
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毒dúpoison
HSK 69 strokes母
View full entry

How to say to be poisoned in Chinese

“to be poisoned” in Chinese is中毒zhòngdú

中毒 (zhòngdú) means 'to be poisoned' or 'poisoning.' It is commonly used in medical contexts to describe the effects of toxic substances on the body. This term can refer to both accidental poisoning and intentional poisoning in various situations.

When to use 中毒

Be careful with the tone, as 中 (zhòng) and 毒 (dú) are both pronounced with the fourth tone. This word is typically used in more formal contexts, such as medical discussions, rather than casual conversations. Common collocations include '中毒事件' (poisoning incident) and '中毒反应' (poisoning reaction).

中毒 or something close to it

中毒 (zhòngdú) vs 毒 (dú) — use 中毒 to describe the action of being poisoned, while 毒 refers to the poison itself.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 中毒 with 中介 (zhōngjiè), which means 'intermediary' or 'agent.' Remember that 中毒 specifically refers to poisoning. Another mistake is mispronouncing the tones; ensure you pronounce 中 with a falling tone and 毒 with a rising tone.

Write 中毒

中
毒

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Frequently Asked Questions about 中毒

It is pronounced as zhòngdú, with the first character having a falling tone and the second character having a rising tone.

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