Meanings of 恸
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About 恸
Podcast: 恸
Podcast: 恸
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AI Study Notes for 恸
悲 (bēi) vs 哀 (āi) — use 恸 (tòng) for intense grief or mourning, while 悲 (bēi) is more general sadness and 哀 (āi) often carries a tone of lamentation.
Be mindful that 恸 is more formal and is often used in literary or solemn contexts. Common mistakes include confusing it with related words like 痛 (tòng, pain), which is more about physical suffering. It's important to use 恸 in contexts related to mourning or deep sadness.
Although 恸 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, understanding it can enhance your emotional vocabulary at higher levels. Focus on its usage in literature and poetry, as this will help reinforce its meaning and context with other emotionally charged words you may encounter.
Learners often confuse 恸 with 痛 due to their similar pronunciations and appearances. For instance, saying '我感到痛' (I feel grief) is incorrect; it should be '我感到恸' when referring to grief specifically.
Pronunciation of 恸
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Etymology of 恸
Moving 动 and sad 忄; 动 also provides the pronunciation
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 恸
- 1The giveawayMoving 动 and sad 忄; 动 also provides the pronunciation
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 恸? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 恸
Identify the Components
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How to say sadness, grief; to mourn, to be moved in Chinese
“sadness, grief; to mourn, to be moved” in Chinese is恸
The character 恸 (tòng) expresses profound sadness or grief, often associated with mourning a loss. It is commonly used to describe deep emotional responses to death or tragedy, particularly in literature and poetry. This term conveys a sense of being deeply moved or affected by sorrowful events.
When to use 恸
Be mindful that 恸 is more formal and is often used in literary or solemn contexts. Common mistakes include confusing it with related words like 痛 (tòng, pain), which is more about physical suffering. It's important to use 恸 in contexts related to mourning or deep sadness.
恸 or something close to it
悲 (bēi) vs 哀 (āi) — use 恸 (tòng) for intense grief or mourning, while 悲 (bēi) is more general sadness and 哀 (āi) often carries a tone of lamentation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 恸 with 痛 due to their similar pronunciations and appearances. For instance, saying '我感到痛' (I feel grief) is incorrect; it should be '我感到恸' when referring to grief specifically.
Write 恸
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Practice writing 恸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 恸
恸 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Complete the Sentence
他们经过时，响起了令人哀怜的____哭。
As they pass by, a piteous wailing is heard.
Example Sentences for 恸 (1)
Word Family of 恸
Compound Meaning
What does 悲恸 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 恸
You might say '我为他的去世感到恸痛' (I feel grief for his passing).
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