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拥挤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
拥挤yōngjǐcrowdedHSK 6, v, 17 strokes, rank #8351, Hard
拥挤yōngjǐto throngHSK 6, v, 17 strokes, rank #8351, Hard
拥挤yōngjǐcongestionHSK 6, v, 17 strokes, rank #8351, Hard
yōngjǐ(yong1ji3)yong ji T1
  1. 1crowded
  2. 2to throng
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March 24, 2026

拥挤(擁擠)yōngjǐ(yong1ji3)

拥挤 (yōngjǐ) describes a state of being crowded or congested, often referring to places like public transport, streets, or events where many people gather. It emphasizes a lack of space due to the high density of individuals, conveying a sense of discomfort or overwhelming presence.

Strokes17Frequency#8351DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese cities, especially during holidays or festivals, public places can become extremely 拥挤, reflecting the cultural significance of communal gatherings. This concept is particularly relevant during the Spring Festival when millions travel to reunite with family.

Memory tip

Imagine a large group of people trying to 'hug' each other (拥 means 'to hug'), but there's not enough space, making it 'crowded' (挤). Picture them all packed tightly together, like sardines in a can, to remember the pronunciation and meaning.

Meanings of 拥挤

yōngjǐ(yong1ji3)
1crowded
2to throng
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 拥挤

拥挤Simplified
擁擠Traditional
17Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#8351Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 拥挤

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Podcast: 拥挤

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AI study notes for 拥挤

Quick Contrast

拥挤 (yōngjǐ) vs 拥塞 (yōngsè) — choose 拥挤 when referring specifically to crowdedness of people, while 拥塞 refers to congestion in traffic.

Usage Notes

When using 拥挤, be mindful of its context; it is often used in negative situations, such as describing an uncomfortable crowd. Avoid confusing it with similar words like 拥有 (to possess), which has a different meaning. The tone of the word can affect its nuance; for example, saying '非常拥挤' (very crowded) emphasizes the severity.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, 拥挤 connects with other vocabulary related to travel and daily life experiences. Focus on using it in sentences about public transportation or events. Practice constructing sentences to enhance your fluency and contextual understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 拥挤 with 繁忙 (busy), leading to sentences like '这个地方很繁忙' (This place is very busy) when they mean '这个地方很拥挤' (This place is very crowded). Remember to use 拥挤 specifically for crowding situations.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 拥挤

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Component characters

拥yōngto hold
HSK 48 strokes扌
View full entry
挤jǐto crowd in
HSK 59 strokes扌
View full entry

How to say crowded in Chinese

“crowded” in Chinese is拥挤yōngjǐ

拥挤 (yōngjǐ) describes a state of being crowded or congested, often referring to places like public transport, streets, or events where many people gather. It emphasizes a lack of space due to the high density of individuals, conveying a sense of discomfort or overwhelming presence.

When to use 拥挤

When using 拥挤, be mindful of its context; it is often used in negative situations, such as describing an uncomfortable crowd. Avoid confusing it with similar words like 拥有 (to possess), which has a different meaning. The tone of the word can affect its nuance; for example, saying '非常拥挤' (very crowded) emphasizes the severity.

拥挤 or something close to it

拥挤 (yōngjǐ) vs 拥塞 (yōngsè) — choose 拥挤 when referring specifically to crowdedness of people, while 拥塞 refers to congestion in traffic.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 拥挤 with 繁忙 (busy), leading to sentences like '这个地方很繁忙' (This place is very busy) when they mean '这个地方很拥挤' (This place is very crowded). Remember to use 拥挤 specifically for crowding situations.

Write 拥挤

拥
挤

Practice writing 拥挤 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 拥挤

拥挤 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.

____的市场是扒手大展身手的好地方。

Crowded markets are a happy hunting ground for pickpockets.

Example sentences for 拥挤 (10)

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1
拥挤的市场是扒手大展身手的好地方。

yōngjǐ de shìchǎng shì bā shǒu dà Zhǎn shēn shǒu de hǎo dìfang。

Crowded markets are a happy hunting ground for pickpockets.
2
在那些拥挤的街道她的穿着并未引起注意。

zài nàxiē yōngjǐ de jiēdào tā de chuānzhuó bìng wèi yǐnqǐ zhùyì。

In those crowded streets her attire did not rate a second glance.
3
车里坐了他们5个人,很拥挤。

chē lǐ zuò le tāmen5 gèrén, hěn yōngjǐ。

It was a squeeze in the car with five of them.
4
拥挤的人群和喧闹的噪音可能会让游客有些茫然不知所措。

yōngjǐ de rénqún hé xuānnào de zàoyīn kěnéng huì ràng yóukè yǒuxiē mángrán bùzhī-suǒcuò。

Sightseers may be a little overwhelmed by the crowds and noise.
5
成千上万的难民涌入拥挤不堪的城镇和村庄。

chéngqiānshàngwàn de nànmín yǒngrù yōngjǐ bùkān de chéngzhèn hé cūnzhuāng。

Thousands of refugees are packed into over-crowded towns and villages.
6
从下午3点30分到7点,那家商店非常拥挤。

cóng xiàwǔ3 diǎn30 fēn dào7 diǎn, nà jiā shāngdiàn fēicháng yōngjǐ。

From 30 until 7pm, the shop is packed.
7
数百个家庭住在机场候机室拥挤的地板上。

shù bǎi gè jiātíng zhùzài jīchǎng hòu Jī shì yōngjǐ de dìbǎn shàng。

There are hundreds of families living in cramped conditions on the floor of the airport lounge.
8
那家剧场的经理让过多的人拥挤在楼厅里,造成了一种危险的情形.

nà jiā jùchǎng de jīnglǐ ràng guò duō de rén yōngjǐ zài lóu tīng lǐ, zàochéng le yī zhǒng wēixiǎn de qíngxing.

The manager of that theatre created a dangerous situation by allowing people to overcrowd the balcony.
9
许多人住在大城市贫困区过度拥挤的楼里.

xǔduō rén zhùzài dà chéngshì pínkùn Ōu guòdù yōngjǐ de lóu lǐ.

Many lived in overcrowded buildings in the poor sections of large cities.
10
一辆豪华轿车载着她沿着拥挤的高速公路飞速驶向机场。

yī liàng háohuá jiàochē zǎi zhe tā yánzhe yōngjǐ de gāosùgōnglù fēisù shǐ xiàng jīchǎng。

A limousine swept her along the busy freeway to the airport.

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Frequently asked questions about 拥挤

No, 拥挤 can also refer to things like traffic congestion or crowded places, such as markets.

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