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諱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
諱huìtaboo; to shun, to conceal, to avoid mentioningx, 16 strokes, radical 言
huì(hui4) T4
  1. 1taboo; to shun, to conceal, to avoid mentioning
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March 24, 2026

諱huì(hui4)

The character 諱 (huì) refers to the concept of a taboo or something that should be avoided or concealed, particularly in conversation. It is often used in cultural contexts where certain topics or names are deemed inappropriate to mention, reflecting respect or sensitivity towards particular subjects.

Strokes16Radical言
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, it is common to avoid mentioning the names of the deceased or certain sensitive topics to show respect, a practice rooted in the concept of 諱.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person 'hiding' their name (huì sounds like 'hide') because it is considered taboo to speak about it. The character 諱 is composed of the '言' (speech) radical, indicating its relevance to communication and discussion, combined with '會' (to meet), suggesting that some meetings or conversations should avoid certain topics.

Meanings of 諱

huì(hui4)
1taboo; to shun, to conceal, to avoid mentioning
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 諱

諱Simplified
16Strokes
言Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 諱

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AI Study Notes for 諱

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the formal tone when using 諱; it is often found in literary or historical contexts. Common collocations include 諱言 (to avoid mentioning) or 諱疾 (to conceal one's illness). Avoid using it in casual conversations unless discussing cultural or historical topics.

HSK Study Tips

While 諱 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is relevant for learners interested in classical texts or cultural studies. Students should focus on the concept of taboo in communication, which can enhance understanding of other HSK words related to speech and social norms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 諱 with similar-sounding words. For instance, using 諱 to mean 'prohibit' instead of 'taboo' is incorrect; the correct term for 'prohibit' is 禁止 (jìn zhǐ).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 諱

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Etymology of 諱

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

Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 韦 represents the sound. Simplified form of 諱.

Memory Hint

speech

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

Origin

諱 = 言 + 韋. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 諱

IDS Structure⿰言韋
諱Full Character
=
言yan2
left
韋wei2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 諱?

How to say taboo; to shun, to conceal, to avoid mentioning in Chinese

“taboo; to shun, to conceal, to avoid mentioning” in Chinese is諱huì

The character 諱 (huì) refers to the concept of a taboo or something that should be avoided or concealed, particularly in conversation. It is often used in cultural contexts where certain topics or names are deemed inappropriate to mention, reflecting respect or sensitivity towards particular subjects.

When to use 諱

Be mindful of the formal tone when using 諱; it is often found in literary or historical contexts. Common collocations include 諱言 (to avoid mentioning) or 諱疾 (to conceal one's illness). Avoid using it in casual conversations unless discussing cultural or historical topics.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 諱 with similar-sounding words. For instance, using 諱 to mean 'prohibit' instead of 'taboo' is incorrect; the correct term for 'prohibit' is 禁止 (jìn zhǐ).

Write 諱

諱

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

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Word Family of 諱

Words Containing This Character11
忌讳jìhuìtaboo忌諱
直言不讳to speak bluntly (idiom)直言不諱
避讳to avoid避諱
供认不讳to plead guilty供認不諱
不讳to die不諱
讳huìtaboo word諱
讳莫如深important matter that must be kept secret (idiom); don't breathe a word of it to anyone!諱莫如深
隐讳to hold back from saying precisely what is on one's mind隱諱
讳疾忌医to keep one's shortcomings secret諱疾忌醫
名讳taboo name (e.g. of emperor)名諱
直言无讳to speak one's mind直言無諱
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 諱

What does 忌讳 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 諱

In everyday language, 諱 refers to topics that are considered taboo or should be avoided in conversation.

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