Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
怀着 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
怀着bearing; harbouring; with (a feeling or a hope)HSK 7, v, 18 strokes, rank #7199, Very Hard
  1. 1bearing; harbouring; with (a feeling or a hope)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

怀着

怀着 (huáizhe) means 'to hold' or 'to cherish' in a figurative sense. It is often used to express feelings or attitudes, such as怀着希望 (huáizhe xīwàng), which means 'to hold hope.' The word conveys a sense of internal emotion or intention that one carries within themselves.

Strokes18Frequency#7199DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of cherishing emotions like hope or dreams is significant, especially in literature and poetry. The expression 怀着梦想 (huáizhe mèngxiǎng) is commonly used to inspire individuals to pursue their aspirations.

Memory tip

Imagine holding a warm, glowing heart in your hands, representing your hopes and dreams. The character 怀 (huái) resembles a heart being cradled, reminding you of cherishing something dear. The -着 (zhe) indicates an ongoing state, like continuously holding that heart.

Meanings of 怀着

Exercise 1 of 1

In English

What does 怀着 mean in English?

怀着

About 怀着

怀着Simplified
18Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 怀着

JasonAmy

Podcast: 怀着

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 怀着

Quick Contrast

怀抱 (huáibào) vs 怀着 (huáizhe): use 怀抱 when emphasizing the physical act of holding something close, while 怀着 focuses on the figurative sense of cherishing an emotion or intention.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 怀着 with just 怀, which simply means 'to hold' without the emotional nuance. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, but can be used in formal writing to express deep feelings. Pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

As a word that may not appear in earlier HSK levels, it is suitable for HSK 4 or 5 learners who are expanding their vocabulary related to emotions and mindsets. Focus on constructing sentences that express feelings using 怀着 with other relevant terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often forget to include the -着 (zhe) when using this word, resulting in incorrect phrases like '我怀希望' instead of '我怀着希望.' Remember that -着 indicates a continuous state.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 怀着

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 怀着 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 怀着 to You

Let me explain 怀着 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 怀着 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 怀着?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 怀着 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component Characters

怀huáibosom
HSK 67 strokes忄
View full entry
着zheaspect particle indicating action in progress
HSK 211 strokes目
View full entry

How to say bearing; harbouring; with (a feeling or a hope) in Chinese

“bearing; harbouring; with (a feeling or a hope)” in Chinese is怀着

怀着 (huáizhe) means 'to hold' or 'to cherish' in a figurative sense. It is often used to express feelings or attitudes, such as怀着希望 (huáizhe xīwàng), which means 'to hold hope.' The word conveys a sense of internal emotion or intention that one carries within themselves.

When to use 怀着

Common mistakes include confusing 怀着 with just 怀, which simply means 'to hold' without the emotional nuance. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, but can be used in formal writing to express deep feelings. Pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning.

怀着 or something close to it

怀抱 (huáibào) vs 怀着 (huáizhe): use 怀抱 when emphasizing the physical act of holding something close, while 怀着 focuses on the figurative sense of cherishing an emotion or intention.

What learners get wrong

Learners often forget to include the -着 (zhe) when using this word, resulting in incorrect phrases like '我怀希望' instead of '我怀着希望.' Remember that -着 indicates a continuous state.

Write 怀着

怀
着

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 怀着?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Frequently Asked Questions about 怀着

It means 'to hold' or 'to cherish' in the context of feelings or intentions.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 怀着?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab