Meanings of 顰
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About 顰
Podcast: 顰
Podcast: 顰
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AI Study Notes for 顰
This character is rarely used in casual conversation, so it's important to recognize it in literary texts. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; 顰 should not be used in the same contexts as more common words for 'frown'. Collocations may include phrases about expressing emotions or reactions.
While 顰 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, its understanding can deepen your grasp of emotional expressions in Chinese. Students at this level should focus on recognizing literary and poetic uses of the character to appreciate its emotional depth.
Learners often confuse 顰 with similar characters like 皱 (zhòu) or 愁 (chóu), which have different meanings. For example, saying '他总是皱' (tā zǒng shì zhòu) to mean 'he always frowns' is incorrect; it should specify the brows as in '他总是皱眉' (tā zǒng shì zhòu méi).
Pronunciation of 顰
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Etymology of 顰
despise
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 顰
- 1The meaning half卑 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half頻 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaydespise
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 顰? 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 顰
Identify the Components
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How to say to frown; to knit the brows in Chinese
“to frown; to knit the brows” in Chinese is顰
The character 顰 (pín) means to frown or to knit the brows, often indicating displeasure or deep thought. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in literary contexts or discussions about emotions. Understanding this character can enhance comprehension of nuanced emotional expressions in Chinese literature.
When to use 顰
This character is rarely used in casual conversation, so it's important to recognize it in literary texts. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; 顰 should not be used in the same contexts as more common words for 'frown'. Collocations may include phrases about expressing emotions or reactions.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 顰 with similar characters like 皱 (zhòu) or 愁 (chóu), which have different meanings. For example, saying '他总是皱' (tā zǒng shì zhòu) to mean 'he always frowns' is incorrect; it should specify the brows as in '他总是皱眉' (tā zǒng shì zhòu méi).
Write 顰
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Practice writing 顰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 顰
Compound Meaning
What does 一颦一笑 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 顰
The pronunciation is 'pín', with a rising tone.
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