Meanings of 惱
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 惱
Podcast: 惱
Podcast: 惱
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 惱
烦 (fán) vs 苦 (kǔ) — choose 惱 (nǎo) when emphasizing emotional anger or irritation, while 烦 (fán) focuses more on annoyance and 苦 (kǔ) conveys suffering or hardship.
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing nǎo, as it is a third tone which can change meaning if mispronounced. This word is more commonly used in informal contexts, and learners should avoid using it in overly formal situations. Common collocations include 惱怒 (nǎonù) meaning 'anger' or 'irritation'.
Although 惱 is not part of the official HSK levels, it can be related to other emotions you may learn at the same level, such as 喜 (xǐ) for 'happy' or 怒 (nù) for 'angry'. Focus on using it in sentences to express feelings and emotions.
Learners often confuse 惱 with other emotion-related characters like 怒 (nù). For example, saying '我很怒' (wǒ hěn nù) instead of '我很惱' (wǒ hěn nǎo) can lead to misunderstanding, as both convey anger but in slightly different contexts.
Pronunciation of 惱
Drill the tone of 惱 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 惱
heart
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 惱
- 1The meaning half忄 carries the sense.
- 2The giveawayheart
- 3On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 惱? 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 惱?
Decomposition of 惱
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 惱?
How to say angry, wrathful in Chinese
“angry, wrathful” in Chinese is惱
The character 惱 (nǎo) means to be angry or wrathful. It conveys a sense of emotional disturbance or irritation, often due to external circumstances. Commonly used in contexts where one expresses frustration or annoyance, it can also refer to causing trouble for others.
When to use 惱
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing nǎo, as it is a third tone which can change meaning if mispronounced. This word is more commonly used in informal contexts, and learners should avoid using it in overly formal situations. Common collocations include 惱怒 (nǎonù) meaning 'anger' or 'irritation'.
惱 or something close to it
烦 (fán) vs 苦 (kǔ) — choose 惱 (nǎo) when emphasizing emotional anger or irritation, while 烦 (fán) focuses more on annoyance and 苦 (kǔ) conveys suffering or hardship.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 惱 with other emotion-related characters like 怒 (nù). For example, saying '我很怒' (wǒ hěn nù) instead of '我很惱' (wǒ hěn nǎo) can lead to misunderstanding, as both convey anger but in slightly different contexts.
Write 惱
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 惱 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 惱
Compound Meaning
What does 烦恼 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 惱
It is used in both written and spoken contexts, but you might encounter it more in literature or discussions about emotions.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 惱?
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.