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哼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
哼
hēng
to groan
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #2007, Very Hard
哼
hēng
to snort
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #2007, Very Hard
哼
hēng
to hum
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #2007, Very Hard
哼
hēng
to croon
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #2007, Very Hard
哼
hēng
humph!
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #2007, Very Hard
哼
hēng
to hum; to sing softly; to moan, to groan
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #2007, Very Hard
hēng(heng1)heng T1
1to groan
2to snort
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March 24, 2026
哼hēng(heng1)
The character 哼 (hēng) generally expresses a sound made to convey discontent, annoyance, or a lack of enthusiasm. It can also indicate a soft, melodic sound, akin to humming or crooning. This character is often used in informal contexts to reflect emotions non-verbally, such as frustration or indifference.
Strokes10Radical口Frequency#2007DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, non-verbal expressions like 哼 play a significant role in communication. The use of sounds to express feelings can convey more than words, reflecting the importance of emotional nuance in social interactions.
Memory tip
Imagine a person who is feeling annoyed and lets out a soft 'hmm' sound. The character 哼 resembles a person with a furrowed brow (the upper part) and a pouting mouth (the lower part), illustrating that feeling of dissatisfaction while making a sound like 'hēng'.
Meanings of 哼
hēng(heng1)
1to groan
2to snort
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 哼 means.
About 哼
哼Simplified
10Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2007Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 哼
Podcast: 哼
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AI study notes for 哼
Usage Notes
While 哼 can be used informally among friends, it may come off as rude or dismissive in formal settings. Be cautious about using it in professional contexts. It often appears in phrases expressing annoyance, such as 哼哼 (hēnghēng), which emphasizes the sound.
HSK Study Tips
As a Level 6 word, 哼 connects with other emotional expression words like 哭 (kū, to cry) and 笑 (xiào, to laugh). Focus on the contexts in which this character is used to express subtle emotional undertones, enhancing your ability to convey feelings accurately.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 哼 with 嗯 (ēn) and use them interchangeably; however, 哼 conveys a stronger emotion like frustration. For example, saying 哼 when you mean to express agreement is incorrect; use 嗯 instead.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 哼
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How well do you know 哼?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 哼 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.
哼 = 口 + 亨. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 哼
IDS Structure⿰口亨
哼Full character
=
口kou3
left
亨heng1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 哼?
How to say to groan in Chinese
“to groan” in Chinese is哼hēng
The character 哼 (hēng) generally expresses a sound made to convey discontent, annoyance, or a lack of enthusiasm. It can also indicate a soft, melodic sound, akin to humming or crooning. This character is often used in informal contexts to reflect emotions non-verbally, such as frustration or indifference.
When to use 哼
While 哼 can be used informally among friends, it may come off as rude or dismissive in formal settings. Be cautious about using it in professional contexts. It often appears in phrases expressing annoyance, such as 哼哼 (hēnghēng), which emphasizes the sound.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 哼 with 嗯 (ēn) and use them interchangeably; however, 哼 conveys a stronger emotion like frustration. For example, saying 哼 when you mean to express agreement is incorrect; use 嗯 instead.
Write 哼
哼
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Practice writing 哼 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 哼
哼 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 6 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我对这条消息的总体反应可以用“____儿哈儿”来概括。
My general reaction to this news might be summed up as "ho-hum"
Example sentences for 哼 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我对这条消息的总体反应可以用“哼儿哈儿”来概括。
wǒ duì zhè tiáo xiāoxi de zǒngtǐ fǎnyìng kěyǐ yòng“ hēng ér Hā ér” lái gàikuò。
My general reaction to this news might be summed up as "ho-hum"
2
贵重的展品，呃哼，丢失的话，会众人皆知。
guìzhòng de Zhǎn pǐn， è hēng， diūshī dehuà， huì zhòngrén jiē zhī。
It is not unknown for valuable display items to go, ahem, missing.
