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昬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
昬hūndusk; dark, confused; stupidzg, 9 strokes, radical 日
hūn(hun1) T1
  1. 1dusk; dark, confused; stupid
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March 24, 2026

昬hūn(hun1)

The character 昬 (hūn) primarily refers to dusk or the time when daylight fades into darkness. It can also describe a state of confusion or a lack of clarity, both in thought and in visual perception, and it can imply a sense of stupidity or dullness in understanding.

Strokes9Radical日
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, dusk signifies a transition not just in the day but also metaphorically in life, often representing confusion or uncertainty. The concept of 'dusk' is frequently explored in poetry and literature, symbolizing contemplation and introspection.

Memory Tip

Imagine the sun setting at dusk, casting a dim light that creates a 'hazy confusion' in your mind. The character 昬 combines the radicals for 'sun' (日) and 'dark' (冥) to evoke the image of the fading light, making it easier to remember both its meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 昬

hūn(hun1)
1dusk; dark, confused; stupid
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 昬

昬Simplified
9Strokes
日Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 昬

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Podcast: 昬

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AI Study Notes for 昬

Quick Contrast

昏 (hūn) - refers specifically to a state of being faint or dizzy, while 昬 (hūn) emphasizes the transition from light to dark.

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 昬, as it can have negative connotations related to intelligence. It is more common in literary or poetic contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Avoid confusing it with similar characters that have more neutral meanings.

HSK Study Tips

While 昬 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be associated with other words at the same level that describe time or states of being. Focus on its usage in contexts of light and darkness to better grasp its meaning.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 昬 with similar characters like 暗 (àn) which means dark but lacks the connotation of confusion or stupidity. For example, saying '我觉得这件事很昬' (I think this matter is very hūn) can imply a misunderstanding, as it suggests stupidity rather than simply being unclear.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 昬

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Etymology of 昬

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Depicts the sun (日) down low (氐) during twilight.

Memory Hint

sun

Semantic (meaning)日
+
Phonetic (sound)民
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

昬 = 日 + 民. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 昬

IDS Structure⿱民日
昬Full Character
=
民Min2
top
日Ri4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 昬?

How to say dusk; dark, confused; stupid in Chinese

“dusk; dark, confused; stupid” in Chinese is昬hūn

The character 昬 (hūn) primarily refers to dusk or the time when daylight fades into darkness. It can also describe a state of confusion or a lack of clarity, both in thought and in visual perception, and it can imply a sense of stupidity or dullness in understanding.

When to use 昬

Be cautious when using 昬, as it can have negative connotations related to intelligence. It is more common in literary or poetic contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Avoid confusing it with similar characters that have more neutral meanings.

昬 or something close to it

昏 (hūn) - refers specifically to a state of being faint or dizzy, while 昬 (hūn) emphasizes the transition from light to dark.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 昬 with similar characters like 暗 (àn) which means dark but lacks the connotation of confusion or stupidity. For example, saying '我觉得这件事很昬' (I think this matter is very hūn) can imply a misunderstanding, as it suggests stupidity rather than simply being unclear.

Write 昬

昬

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

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Word Family of 昬

Words Containing This Character20
昏迷hūnmístupor
昏hūntwilight
黄昏huánghūndusk黃昏
昏倒to faint
昏暗dusky
昏睡sleep
头昏dizzy頭昏
昏迷不醒to remain unconscious
昏昏欲睡drowsy
昏厥to faint
昏昏沉沉dizzy
发昏to faint發昏
昏天黑地fig. pitch dark
头昏脑胀giddy頭昏腦脹
冲昏头脑to go to one's head沖昏頭腦
头昏眼花to faint with blurred vision (idiom); dizzy and eyes dimmed頭昏眼花
昏庸muddleheaded
昏沉murky
昏君incapable ruler
昏花dim (eyesight)
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 昬

What does 昏迷 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 昬

No, 昬 is more frequently seen in literary texts and is not a common term in everyday speech.

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