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嫉妒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
嫉妒
jídù
to be jealous
HSK 7, v, 20 strokes, rank #2208, Very Hard
嫉妒
jídù
to envy
HSK 7, v, 20 strokes, rank #2208, Very Hard
嫉妒
jídù
to hate
HSK 7, v, 20 strokes, rank #2208, Very Hard
jídù(ji2du4)ji du T2
1to be jealous
2to envy
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March 24, 2026
嫉妒jídù(ji2du4)
嫉妒 (ji2 du4) means to feel jealousy or envy towards someone, often due to their success or traits that one wishes to possess. This term can be used in both personal and professional contexts, reflecting negative feelings towards another's advantages or achievements.
Strokes20Frequency#2208DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
嫉妒 is often discussed in the context of Chinese interpersonal relationships, where harmony is valued. Expressing jealousy can be seen as a breakdown of social harmony, making it a sensitive topic in conversations.
Memory tip
Imagine a green-eyed monster named 'Ji' who is always 'du' (doing) something to undermine others' success. The character 嫉 (ji) looks like a person with a frown, while 妒 (du) suggests a heart being squeezed by jealousy.
Meanings of 嫉妒
jídù(ji2du4)
1to be jealous
2to envy
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 嫉妒
嫉妒Simplified
20Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2208Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 嫉妒
Podcast: 嫉妒
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AI study notes for 嫉妒
Quick Contrast
羡慕 (xiànmù) refers to admiration or envy towards someone else's success without the negative connotations of jealousy, while 嫉妒 (jídù) implies a desire to possess what another has.
Usage Notes
嫉妒 is often used in informal settings to describe personal feelings, but can also appear in literary contexts. Be careful with the tone; the second syllable 'du' should be pronounced with a falling tone to convey the correct meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 嫉妒 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to emotions and social relations. Focus on how to use it in different contexts, such as expressing jealousy in friendships versus professional environments.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嫉妒 with 羡慕 (xiàn mù), which conveys a more positive sense of envy. For example, saying '我羡慕他的成功' (I envy his success) is more complimentary than '我嫉妒他的成功' (I am jealous of his success).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嫉妒
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嫉妒 (ji2 du4) means to feel jealousy or envy towards someone, often due to their success or traits that one wishes to possess. This term can be used in both personal and professional contexts, reflecting negative feelings towards another's advantages or achievements.
When to use 嫉妒
嫉妒 is often used in informal settings to describe personal feelings, but can also appear in literary contexts. Be careful with the tone; the second syllable 'du' should be pronounced with a falling tone to convey the correct meaning.
嫉妒 or something close to it
羡慕 (xiànmù) refers to admiration or envy towards someone else's success without the negative connotations of jealousy, while 嫉妒 (jídù) implies a desire to possess what another has.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 嫉妒 with 羡慕 (xiàn mù), which conveys a more positive sense of envy. For example, saying '我羡慕他的成功' (I envy his success) is more complimentary than '我嫉妒他的成功' (I am jealous of his success).
Write 嫉妒
嫉
妒
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Grammar patterns of 嫉妒
嫉妒 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 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我绞尽脑汁，处心积虑，就是为了让他____。
I worked myself into frenzy plotting ways to make him jealous.
