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混淆 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
混淆hùnxiáoto obscureHSK 7, v, 22 strokes, rank #10824, Very Hard
混淆hùnxiáoto confuseHSK 7, v, 22 strokes, rank #10824, Very Hard
混淆hùnxiáoto mix upHSK 7, v, 22 strokes, rank #10824, Very Hard
混淆hùnxiáoto blurHSK 7, v, 22 strokes, rank #10824, Very Hard
混淆hùnxiáoto misleadHSK 7, v, 22 strokes, rank #10824, Very Hard
hùnxiáo(hun4xiao2)hun xiao T4
  1. 1to obscure
  2. 2to confuse
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March 24, 2026

混淆hùnxiáo(hun4xiao2)

混淆 (hùn xiáo) means to confuse or mix up, often referring to situations where clarity is lost due to overlapping elements. It is commonly used in contexts involving information, concepts, or identities that are not clearly distinguished, leading to misunderstandings or misinterpretations.

Strokes22Frequency#10824DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese discussions about education and communication, 混淆 is often referenced in debates about clarity in teaching methods, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing concepts to avoid confusion among students.

Memory Tip

Imagine two different colored paints, red and blue, being mixed together. The resulting purple color represents 混淆, as the distinct identities of red and blue become blurred. The pronunciation 'hùn' sounds like 'hunt'—you hunt for clarity when things are 混淆.

Meanings of 混淆

hùnxiáo(hun4xiao2)
1to obscure
2to confuse
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 混淆

混淆Simplified
22Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#10824Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 混淆

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Podcast: 混淆

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AI Study Notes for 混淆

Quick Contrast

混淆 (hùnxiáo) vs 混乱 (hùnluàn): use 混淆 when referring to confusion between concepts or identities, while 混乱 indicates a state of disorder or chaos.

Usage Notes

A common mistake is to confuse 混淆 with 迷惑 (mí huò), which means to bewilder. 混淆 is more about mixing up or obscuring clarity. This term is often used in formal contexts, such as academic writing or serious discussions.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 混淆 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to confusion and clarity, such as 清晰 (qīng xī - clear) and 模糊 (mó hu - blurry). Focus on examples of its usage in academic or professional settings to grasp its nuances.

Common Mistakes

Learners often use 混淆 incorrectly in informal contexts, thinking it can replace simpler words like confuse. For example, saying '我感到混淆' (Wǒ gǎndào hùn xiáo) is incorrect; a better phrase would be '我感到困惑' (Wǒ gǎndào kùnhuò) to express feeling confused.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 混淆

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Component Characters

混hùnconfused
HSK 611 strokes氵
View full entry
淆xiáoconfused, mixed up, in disarray
11 strokes氵
View full entry

How to say to obscure in Chinese

“to obscure” in Chinese is混淆hùnxiáo

混淆 (hùn xiáo) means to confuse or mix up, often referring to situations where clarity is lost due to overlapping elements. It is commonly used in contexts involving information, concepts, or identities that are not clearly distinguished, leading to misunderstandings or misinterpretations.

When to use 混淆

A common mistake is to confuse 混淆 with 迷惑 (mí huò), which means to bewilder. 混淆 is more about mixing up or obscuring clarity. This term is often used in formal contexts, such as academic writing or serious discussions.

混淆 or something close to it

混淆 (hùnxiáo) vs 混乱 (hùnluàn): use 混淆 when referring to confusion between concepts or identities, while 混乱 indicates a state of disorder or chaos.

What learners get wrong

Learners often use 混淆 incorrectly in informal contexts, thinking it can replace simpler words like confuse. For example, saying '我感到混淆' (Wǒ gǎndào hùn xiáo) is incorrect; a better phrase would be '我感到困惑' (Wǒ gǎndào kùnhuò) to express feeling confused.

Write 混淆

混
淆

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Grammar Patterns of 混淆

混淆 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 5 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 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

我们开始____皇室大家庭和君主制这两个概念了。

We are beginning to muddle the extended royal family and the monarchy.

Example Sentences for 混淆 (2)

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1
我们开始混淆皇室大家庭和君主制这两个概念了。

wǒ mén kāi shǐ hùn xiáo huáng shì dà jiā tíng hé jūn zhǔ zhì zhè liǎng gè gài niàn le。

We are beginning to muddle the extended royal family and the monarchy.
2
公司犯罪不应与 白领 犯罪混淆, 后者指的是犯罪者的职业,其罪行可能是针对企业的.

gōng sī fàn zuì bù yīng yǔ bái lǐng fàn zuì, hùn xiáo , hòu zhě zhǐ de shì fàn zuì zhě, de zhí yè , qí zuì háng kě néng shì zhēn.

Corporate crime — committed by businesses — should not be confused with white - collar crime, which refers to the occupation of the perpetrator and may be directed against ...

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Frequently Asked Questions about 混淆

混淆 specifically implies mixing or blurring distinctions, while ‘confusing’ can refer to any lack of clarity.

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