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悲痛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
悲痛bēitònggrievedHSK 7, unknown, 24 strokes, rank #6983, Very Hard
悲痛bēitòngsorrowfulHSK 7, unknown, 24 strokes, rank #6983, Very Hard
bēitòng(bei1tong4)bei tong T1
  1. 1grieved
  2. 2sorrowful
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March 24, 2026

悲痛bēitòng(bei1tong4)

悲痛 (bēi tòng) refers to a deep sense of grief or sorrow, often due to loss or tragedy. This word is commonly used in contexts involving mourning or expressing profound sadness, such as during funerals or when discussing tragic events.

Strokes24Frequency#6983DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, expressing grief is often accompanied by specific customs and rituals, such as wearing white clothing during a mourning period. The word 悲痛 reflects the deep respect and seriousness with which loss is approached in society.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'b' for 'broken' and a 't' for 'tears', creating a story where a broken heart leads to tears of sorrow. The character 悲 combines the heart radical (心) with a symbol of sadness, while 痛 suggests physical pain, together emphasizing the emotional hurt felt in sorrow.

Meanings of 悲痛

bēitòng(bei1tong4)
1grieved
2sorrowful
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About 悲痛

悲痛Simplified
24Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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Podcast: 悲痛

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AI study notes for 悲痛

Quick Contrast

悲伤 (bēi shāng) is more general and can refer to sadness in a broader sense, while 悲痛 (bēi tòng) specifically conveys a deeper, more intense grief.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 悲痛; both syllables are in the first and fourth tones respectively. It is typically used in more formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include 悲痛欲绝 (bēi tòng yù jué), meaning 'to be heartbroken' or 'overwhelmed with grief'.

HSK Study Tips

Although 悲痛 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it is important for learners to recognize emotional vocabulary as it relates to human experiences. Focus on understanding how this word fits into the broader context of discussing feelings, especially in advanced levels.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 悲痛 with less intense words for sadness, like 难过 (nán guò). For example, saying '我很悲痛因为我失去了一只猫' is too strong if the loss was not deeply impactful; instead, use 难过 for a lighter expression.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 悲痛

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Component characters

悲bēisad
HSK 712 strokes心
View full entry
痛tòngache
HSK 412 strokes疒
View full entry

How to say grieved in Chinese

“grieved” in Chinese is悲痛bēitòng

悲痛 (bēi tòng) refers to a deep sense of grief or sorrow, often due to loss or tragedy. This word is commonly used in contexts involving mourning or expressing profound sadness, such as during funerals or when discussing tragic events.

When to use 悲痛

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 悲痛; both syllables are in the first and fourth tones respectively. It is typically used in more formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include 悲痛欲绝 (bēi tòng yù jué), meaning 'to be heartbroken' or 'overwhelmed with grief'.

悲痛 or something close to it

悲伤 (bēi shāng) is more general and can refer to sadness in a broader sense, while 悲痛 (bēi tòng) specifically conveys a deeper, more intense grief.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 悲痛 with less intense words for sadness, like 难过 (nán guò). For example, saying '我很悲痛因为我失去了一只猫' is too strong if the loss was not deeply impactful; instead, use 难过 for a lighter expression.

Write 悲痛

悲
痛

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Cultural Notes for 悲痛

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, expressions of grief tend to be more personal and less formalized, while in Chinese culture, there are structured rituals and social expectations surrounding mourning.

Frequently asked questions about 悲痛

You can use 悲痛 when discussing topics related to loss, such as death, illness, or tragic events.

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