HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 心, rank #21933, Very Hard
惩
chéng
to reprimand
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 心, rank #21933, Very Hard
惩
chéng
to warn
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 心, rank #21933, Very Hard
惩
chéng
to discipline, to punish, to reprimand, to warn
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 心, rank #21933, Very Hard
chéng(cheng2) T2
1to punish
2to reprimand
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March 24, 2026
惩(懲)chéng(cheng2)
惩 (chéng) means to punish or reprimand someone for wrongdoing. It is commonly used in contexts involving discipline, such as legal or educational settings, where consequences are imposed for misbehavior. The nuance can imply not just punishment but also a warning to correct future behavior.
Strokes12Radical心Frequency#21933DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, punishment and discipline have historically played a significant role in education and governance, reflected in Confucian ideals where maintaining order is paramount. 惩 embodies this cultural emphasis on accountability and correction.
Memory Tip
Imagine a stern teacher (the radical '忄' symbolizes emotions) who punishes a student (the component '惩' resembles a student in a chair) for not doing their homework. The sound 'chéng' rhymes with 'change,' suggesting the need for the student to change their behavior to avoid punishment.
Meanings of 惩
chéng(cheng2)
1to punish
2to reprimand
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 惩
惩Simplified
懲Traditional
12Strokes
心Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#21933Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 惩
Podcast: 惩
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AI Study Notes for 惩
Quick Contrast
惩 (chéng) vs 罚 (fá) — use 惩 when emphasizing the aspect of reprimanding or warning for correction, while 罚 focuses more on the imposition of a penalty or fine.
Usage Notes
Beware of using 惩 in overly informal contexts, as it carries a serious tone best suited for formal discussions about discipline. Common collocations include 惩罚 (chéngfá, to punish) and 惩戒 (chéngjiè, to discipline). Ensure the tones are pronounced correctly to avoid confusion.
HSK Study Tips
Though not officially listed in HSK levels, 惩 can be related to other HSK vocabulary concerning rules and behavior, such as 罚 (fá, to punish). Focus on understanding its usage in legal and educational contexts to enhance comprehension of related terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 惩 with 罚 (fá) and use them interchangeably, leading to errors. For example, saying '他受到惩罚' (Tā shòudào chéngfá) is correct, but using 惩 alone without 惩罚 is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 惩
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Phonosemantic compound. 心 represents the meaning and 征 represents the sound. Simplified form of 懲.
1The meaning half心 carries the sense.
2The sound half征 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayheart
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 惩? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 惩?
Decomposition of 惩
IDS Structure⿱征心
惩Full Character
=
征zheng1
top
心xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 惩?
How to say to punish in Chinese
“to punish” in Chinese is惩chéng
惩 (chéng) means to punish or reprimand someone for wrongdoing. It is commonly used in contexts involving discipline, such as legal or educational settings, where consequences are imposed for misbehavior. The nuance can imply not just punishment but also a warning to correct future behavior.
When to use 惩
Beware of using 惩 in overly informal contexts, as it carries a serious tone best suited for formal discussions about discipline. Common collocations include 惩罚 (chéngfá, to punish) and 惩戒 (chéngjiè, to discipline). Ensure the tones are pronounced correctly to avoid confusion.
惩 or something close to it
惩 (chéng) vs 罚 (fá) — use 惩 when emphasizing the aspect of reprimanding or warning for correction, while 罚 focuses more on the imposition of a penalty or fine.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 惩 with 罚 (fá) and use them interchangeably, leading to errors. For example, saying '他受到惩罚' (Tā shòudào chéngfá) is correct, but using 惩 alone without 惩罚 is incorrect.
Write 惩
惩
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Practice writing 惩 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 惩
惩 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 4 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
他们呼吁当局将蓄奴定为一种应该受到____罚的罪行。
They called on the authorities to make slavery a punishable offence.
Example Sentences for 惩 (9)
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1
他们呼吁当局将蓄奴定为一种应该受到惩罚的罪行。
tā mén hū xū dāng jú jiāng xù nú dìng wéi yī zhǒng yīng gāi shòu dào chéng fá de zuì háng。
They called on the authorities to make slavery a punishable offence.
