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聩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
聩kuìdeafg, 15 strokes, radical 耳, rank #63433, Very Hard
聩kuìborn deafunknown, 15 strokes, radical 耳, rank #63433, Very Hard
聩kuìobtuseunknown, 15 strokes, radical 耳, rank #63433, Very Hard
kuì(kui4) T4
  1. 1deaf
  2. 2born deaf
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March 24, 2026

聩(聵)kuì(kui4)

The character 聩 (kuì) refers to being deaf or having a lack of hearing. It can describe individuals who are born deaf or those who are unable to hear due to other reasons. In a broader sense, it can imply being obtuse or lacking understanding.

Strokes15Radical耳Frequency#63433DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, there is a growing awareness and acceptance of deafness and the use of sign language, influenced by international movements for disability rights. The character 聩 connects to this by highlighting the condition of being deaf.

Memory Tip

Imagine a quiet, serene lake where no sounds reach the surface. The character 聩 has the radical 聿, which relates to sound, and the bottom component 夭 symbolizes a lack of vitality. Picture someone who is unable to hear the splashes of water, embodying the meaning of being deaf.

Meanings of 聩

kuì(kui4)
1deaf
2born deaf
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 聩

聩Simplified
聵Traditional
15Strokes
耳Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 聩

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Podcast: 聩

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AI Study Notes for 聩

Usage Notes

This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation, and learners might confuse it with similar-sounding words. It is important to use it in the correct context, especially when discussing disabilities or specific medical terms, to maintain a respectful tone.

HSK Study Tips

Although 聩 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be related to HSK Level 4 words concerning disabilities or conditions. Focus on understanding the context in which this character might be used, especially in medical or psychological discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 聩 with 聋 (lóng), which also means deaf but is more commonly used. For example, saying '我聩' instead of '我聋' would be incorrect in most contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 聩

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Etymology of 聩

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

ear

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

Origin

聩 = 耳 + 贵. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 聩

IDS Structure⿰耳贵
聩Full Character
=
耳er3
left
贵gui4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 聩?

How to say deaf in Chinese

“deaf” in Chinese is聩kuì

The character 聩 (kuì) refers to being deaf or having a lack of hearing. It can describe individuals who are born deaf or those who are unable to hear due to other reasons. In a broader sense, it can imply being obtuse or lacking understanding.

When to use 聩

This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation, and learners might confuse it with similar-sounding words. It is important to use it in the correct context, especially when discussing disabilities or specific medical terms, to maintain a respectful tone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 聩 with 聋 (lóng), which also means deaf but is more commonly used. For example, saying '我聩' instead of '我聋' would be incorrect in most contexts.

Write 聩

聩

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

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Word Family of 聩

Words Containing This Character4
振聋发聩lit. so loud that even the deaf can hear (idiom); rousing even the apathetic振聾發聵
聩kuìdeaf聵
昏聩muddle-headed昏聵
发聋振聩lit. so loud that even the deaf can hear (idiom); rousing even the apathetic發聾振聵
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 聩

What does 振聋发聩 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 聩

No, 聩 is more specialized and often found in medical or formal contexts.

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