Meanings of 恻
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 恻
Podcast: 恻
Podcast: 恻
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 恻
惋 (wǎn) - use 恻 (cè) when emphasizing deep sympathy for others' suffering, while 惋 (wǎn) conveys a sense of regret or sorrow for lost opportunities.
Learners often confuse 恻 with similar-sounding characters that express different kinds of emotions, such as 悲 (bēi) for 'sad' or 'sorrowful.' It's important to use 恻 in contexts where empathy for someone's suffering is highlighted. This character is more commonly found in literary and formal settings rather than casual conversation.
While 恻 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it relates to feelings expressed in higher HSK levels, particularly words associated with emotions. Students should focus on recognizing it in literary texts and practicing its emotional nuances to deepen their understanding.
Learners may mistakenly use 恻 to describe general sadness instead of specific sympathy towards others. For example, saying '我感到恻' (wǒ gǎndào cè) instead of '我感到悲伤' (wǒ gǎndào bēishāng) can lead to confusion about the emotional context.
Pronunciation of 恻
Drill the tone of 恻 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 恻
Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 则 represents the sound. Simplified form of 惻.
heart
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 恻
Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 则 represents the sound. Simplified form of 惻.
- 1The meaning half忄 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half则 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayheart
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 恻? 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
What type of character formation is 恻?
Decomposition of 恻
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 恻?
How to say anguished; sympathetic in Chinese
“anguished; sympathetic” in Chinese is恻
The character 恻 (cè) conveys feelings of deep sympathy, sorrow, or anguish, often in response to the suffering of others. It is commonly used in literary contexts to express emotional responses to tragic situations or the misfortunes of others, reflecting a sense of compassion and empathy.
When to use 恻
Learners often confuse 恻 with similar-sounding characters that express different kinds of emotions, such as 悲 (bēi) for 'sad' or 'sorrowful.' It's important to use 恻 in contexts where empathy for someone's suffering is highlighted. This character is more commonly found in literary and formal settings rather than casual conversation.
恻 or something close to it
惋 (wǎn) - use 恻 (cè) when emphasizing deep sympathy for others' suffering, while 惋 (wǎn) conveys a sense of regret or sorrow for lost opportunities.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistakenly use 恻 to describe general sadness instead of specific sympathy towards others. For example, saying '我感到恻' (wǒ gǎndào cè) instead of '我感到悲伤' (wǒ gǎndào bēishāng) can lead to confusion about the emotional context.
Write 恻
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 恻 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 恻
Compound Meaning
What does 恻 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 恻
You can use 恻 in phrases like '我对他的遭遇感到恻隐' (wǒ duì tā de zāoyù gǎndào cè yǐn), which means 'I feel sympathetic towards his plight.'
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 恻?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.