to scold; to yawn; the sound of someone laughing (when repeated)
HSK 7, y, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #4168, Hard
呵
hē
expel breath
HSK 7, y, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #4168, Hard
呵
hē
my goodness
HSK 7, y, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #4168, Hard
呵
hē
to scold; to yawn; the sound of someone laughing (when repeated)
HSK 7, y, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #4168, Hard
ā(a1)
primary
T1
1expel breath
2my goodness
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March 24, 2026
呵ā(a1)
The character 呵 (ā) primarily signifies the expulsion of breath and can be used in various contexts, such as expressing surprise or scolding someone. It also serves as a variant of the character 啊 (ā) and can express exclamatory emotions like 'my goodness!' or laughter when repeated. It is often used in informal settings and adds emotional nuance to conversations.
Strokes8Radical口Frequency#4168DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the use of exclamatory sounds like 呵 can reflect emotional expressiveness and is often found in everyday conversation, making it a useful tool for sounding more natural in social interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person taking a deep breath before expressing surprise, exclaiming 'Aah!' as the breath is expelled. The character 呵 resembles a mouth (口) expelling air, and the sound 'ā' mimics the breathing out, linking its pronunciation to its meaning.
Meanings of 呵
ā(a1)
primary
1expel breath
2my goodness
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 呵
呵Simplified
8Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4168Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7TOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 呵
Podcast: 呵
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AI Study Notes for 呵
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person taking a deep breath before expressing surprise, exclaiming 'Aah!' as the breath is expelled. The character 呵 resembles a mouth (口) expelling air, and the sound 'ā' mimics the breathing out, linking its pronunciation to its meaning.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when using 呵, as it is often informal and can convey a playful tone or a scolding intent. Ensure you understand the context before using it to avoid sounding too harsh. Common collocations include phrases like 呵呵 (hēhē) to indicate laughter.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 呵 connects to other emotional or expressive characters, enhancing vocabulary related to reactions and feelings. Students should focus on the subtleties of tone and context, as well as how it contrasts with more formal expressions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the use of exclamatory sounds like 呵 can reflect emotional expressiveness and is often found in everyday conversation, making it a useful tool for sounding more natural in social interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 呵 with 啊 when trying to express surprise. For example, using 呵 in a serious context can sound inappropriate, while saying '呵' instead of '啊' for a simple acknowledgment may sound overly dramatic. Always match the tone to the context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 呵
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Grammar Patterns of 呵
呵 functions as a grammatical particle — it carries no standalone meaning but signals a grammatical relationship. Particles attach to specific positions in the sentence (clause-final 吗/吧/呢, post-verbal 了/过/着, post-noun 的) and rarely move. It carries 3 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
Complete the Sentence
我妈妈在____护下长大，对童年有着非常美好的回忆。
My mother, who had a sheltered upbringing, has fantastic memories of childhood.
She let out a big yawn a full inch square in area.
5
他咧着嘴笑呵呵的。
tā liě zháo zuǐ xiào hē hē de。
He had a grin on his face like a Cheshire Cat.
6
祖母身材圆胖，整天乐呵呵的。
zǔ mǔ shēn cái yuán pàng， ， zhěng tiān lè hē hē。
Grandma was plump and jovial.
7
他整天笑呵呵的样子给他们留下很深的印象。
tā zhěng tiān xiào hē hē de yàng zǐ gěi tā mén liú xià hěn shēn de yìn xiàng。
They were impressed by his steadfast good cheer.
8
我感到很困,止不住地打呵欠.
wǒ gǎn dào hěn kùn, , zhǐ bù zhù dì dǎ hē.
I felt so sleepy I couldn't stop yawning.
9
必须让杆头一气呵成地挥出。
bì xū ràng gān tóu yī qì hē chéng dì huī chū。
You must allow the clubhead to swing freely.
10
我呵婴孩痒,婴孩笑了.
wǒ hē yīng hái yǎng, , yīng hái xiào.
The baby laughed when I gave her a tickle.
Cultural Notes for 呵
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the use of exclamatory sounds like 呵 can reflect emotional expressiveness and is often found in everyday conversation, making it a useful tool for sounding more natural in social interactions.
Word Family of 呵
Words Containing This Character12
呵呵chuckle
呵āAh!
呵护hēhùto bless呵護
一气呵成to flow smoothly一氣呵成
乐呵呵happily樂呵呵
呵斥to berate
呵欠yawn
打呵欠to yawn
呵责to abuse呵責
呵叱to berate
叱呵to yell
呵喝to bellow
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 呵呵 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 呵
No, 呵 is predominantly used in informal contexts and is more common in spoken language.
Yes, when repeated as 呵呵 (hēhē), it indicates laughter or amusement.
呵 is more expressive and often conveys surprise or scolding, while 啊 can be a more neutral exclamatory particle.
