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凶 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
凶
xiōng
terrible
HSK 7, zg, 4 strokes, radical 凵, rank #2986, Very Hard
凶
xiōng
fearful
HSK 7, zg, 4 strokes, radical 凵, rank #2986, Very Hard
凶
xiōng
culprit; murder; bad, sad
HSK 7, zg, 4 strokes, radical 凵, rank #2986, Very Hard
凶
xiōng
ominous
HSK 7, unknown, 4 strokes, radical 凵, rank #2986, Very Hard
凶
xiōng
inauspicious
HSK 7, unknown, 4 strokes, radical 凵, rank #2986, Very Hard
凶
xiōng
famine
HSK 7, unknown, 4 strokes, radical 凵, rank #2986, Very Hard
xiōng(xiong1)xiong T1
1terrible
2fearful
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
凶(兇)xiōng(xiong1)
The character 凶 (xiōng) primarily means 'terrible' or 'fearful.' It is often used in contexts to describe something ominous or inauspicious, such as bad events or situations. Additionally, it can indicate a culprit or something related to murder, emphasizing severity and negativity.
Strokes4Radical凵Frequency#2986DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of inauspiciousness is taken seriously, especially regarding numbers or events that are considered '凶.' For example, the number 4 is often avoided due to its association with death, reflecting the cultural significance of avoiding bad omens.
Memory tip
Imagine a fierce, growling dog (the 'xiōng' sound) that looks terrifying. The character 凶 has a sharp, angular shape that resembles the menacing stance of a threatening animal, reinforcing its meaning of fear and danger.
Meanings of 凶
xiōng(xiong1)
1terrible
2fearful
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 凶 means.
About 凶
凶Simplified
兇Traditional
4Strokes
凵Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#2986Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 凶
Podcast: 凶
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AI study notes for 凶
Quick Contrast
凶 (xiōng) vs 恶 (è) — choose 凶 for a focus on fearfulness or ominousness, while 恶 emphasizes malice or wickedness.
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 凶, as it carries strong negative connotations and is not suitable for formal or polite contexts. Common mistakes include using it to describe neutral or positive situations, which can lead to misunderstandings. It often collocates with words like '凶狠' (xiōng hěn, ruthless) or '凶兆' (xiōng zhào, ominous sign).
HSK Study Tips
While 凶 is not listed in the HSK levels, it is useful for learners to understand its connections to more common adjectives describing fear or negativity. Students should focus on the emotional weight of this character and practice using it in context with other descriptive words.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 凶 with 兇 (xiōng) used in different dialects, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '他是一个凶人' (tā shì yī gè xiōng rén) instead of '他是一个凶狠的人' (tā shì yī gè xiōng hěn de rén) can sound awkward.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 凶
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 凶 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.
The character 凶 (xiōng) primarily means 'terrible' or 'fearful.' It is often used in contexts to describe something ominous or inauspicious, such as bad events or situations. Additionally, it can indicate a culprit or something related to murder, emphasizing severity and negativity.
When to use 凶
Be cautious when using 凶, as it carries strong negative connotations and is not suitable for formal or polite contexts. Common mistakes include using it to describe neutral or positive situations, which can lead to misunderstandings. It often collocates with words like '凶狠' (xiōng hěn, ruthless) or '凶兆' (xiōng zhào, ominous sign).
凶 or something close to it
凶 (xiōng) vs 恶 (è) — choose 凶 for a focus on fearfulness or ominousness, while 恶 emphasizes malice or wickedness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 凶 with 兇 (xiōng) used in different dialects, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '他是一个凶人' (tā shì yī gè xiōng rén) instead of '他是一个凶狠的人' (tā shì yī gè xiōng hěn de rén) can sound awkward.
Write 凶
凶
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Practice writing 凶 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 凶
凶 carries 6 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
警方认为她是被____手活活用拳头打死的。
Police believe the killer punched her to death with his bare hands.
