HSK 3, v, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #820, Medium
哭
kū
to weep
HSK 3, v, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #820, Medium
哭
kū
to weep, to cry, to wail
HSK 3, v, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #820, Medium
kū(ku1) T1
1to cry
2to weep
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March 24, 2026
哭kū(ku1)
The character 哭 (kū) means to cry or weep. It is commonly used to describe the act of shedding tears due to emotions such as sadness, frustration, or sometimes even joy. In conversational contexts, it can also imply making a loud noise or wailing, particularly in emotional distress.
Strokes10Radical口Frequency#820DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
Crying in Chinese culture can often be seen as a sign of vulnerability and is sometimes discouraged in public settings. However, it also signifies deep emotional expression, particularly in literature and cinema, where characters often cry to convey profound sorrow or love.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person with tears falling down their face, shaped like the character 哭. The '口' (kǒu) radical at the bottom represents the mouth, emphasizing that crying often involves vocal expressions. Visualize someone crying out loudly, which connects to the pronunciation 'kū' and reinforces the emotional weight of the action.
Meanings of 哭
kū(ku1)
1to cry
2to weep
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 哭
哭Simplified
10Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#820Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 哭
Podcast: 哭
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AI Study Notes for 哭
Quick Contrast
哭 (kū) vs 哭泣 (kūqì) — use 哭 for general crying, while 哭泣 is more specific to quiet weeping.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person with tears falling down their face, shaped like the character 哭. The '口' (kǒu) radical at the bottom represents the mouth, emphasizing that crying often involves vocal expressions. Visualize someone crying out loudly, which connects to the pronunciation 'kū' and reinforces the emotional weight of the action.
Usage Notes
When using 哭, be mindful of the tone; it’s pronounced with a high level tone (kū). Common collocations include '哭泣' (kū qì, to weep) and '哭了' (kū le, cried). A frequent mistake is confusing it with '笑' (xiào, to laugh); remember that 哭 conveys sadness, while 笑 indicates happiness.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 哭 is essential for expressing emotions. Students should practice using it in sentences that reflect personal experiences of sadness or joy. Connecting it with other verbs related to feelings will enhance understanding, such as '笑' (xiào) and '哭' (kū).
Cultural Note
Crying in Chinese culture can often be seen as a sign of vulnerability and is sometimes discouraged in public settings. However, it also signifies deep emotional expression, particularly in literature and cinema, where characters often cry to convey profound sorrow or love.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 哭 with its synonyms, using it incorrectly in contexts that require different emotional expressions. For instance, saying '我哭了因为我很高兴' (Wǒ kū le yīnwèi wǒ hěn gāoxìng) incorrectly translates to 'I cried because I was very happy'; instead, it should reflect sadness or distress.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 哭
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Grammar Patterns of 哭
哭 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
The seven-year-old was found crying with scratches on his face and neck.
10
他那番严厉无情的话让她伤心得大哭起来。
tā nà fān yán lì wú qíng de huà ràng tā shāng xīn dé dà kū qǐ lái。
She burst into tears, stung by the harshness of his words.
Cultural Notes for 哭
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, crying is often seen as a way to express deep emotion. It is common for people to cry during significant life events such as weddings and funerals.
🏮Cultural insight
Crying in Chinese culture can often be seen as a sign of vulnerability and is sometimes discouraged in public settings. However, it also signifies deep emotional expression, particularly in literature and cinema, where characters often cry to convey profound sorrow or love.
📜Proverb
There's a saying in Chinese: '哭是心灵的语言' which means 'Crying is the language of the soul'. This reflects the belief that crying can help release emotions.
Word Family of 哭
Words Containing This Character20
哭kūto cry
哭泣kūqìto weep
哭声sound of weeping哭聲
痛哭to cry bitterly
哭喊to wail
哭笑不得kūxiàobùdébetween laughter and tears
哭诉to lament哭訴
哭哭啼啼to weep endlessly
哭鼻子to snivel (usually humorous)
痛哭流涕weeping bitter tears
啼哭to cry
哭丧着脸sullen哭喪著臉
抱头痛哭to weep disconsolately抱頭痛哭
放声大哭to burst into tears放聲大哭
嚎啕大哭to wail
哭丧to wail at a funeral哭喪
哭腔sob
哭穷to bewail one's poverty哭窮
鬼哭狼嚎to wail like ghosts and howl like wolves (idiom)
嚎哭to bawl
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 哭 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 哭
Some synonyms for 哭 (kū) include 哭泣 (kū qì), which also means 'to weep', and 嚎啕 (háo táo), which means 'to wail'. Each of these terms can convey different levels of emotional expression, with 嚎啕 often indicating a louder, more intense crying.
You can use 哭 (kū) in a sentence to express emotions, for example: '他哭了' (tā kū le) means 'He cried.' You can also use it in various contexts, such as '不要哭' (bù yào kū) which means 'Don't cry.' This shows the versatility of the verb in expressing feelings.
哭 (kū) means 'to cry' or 'to weep' in Chinese. It can be used to describe the act of shedding tears due to emotions such as sadness, pain, or even joy. This character is commonly used in various contexts, including literature, everyday conversations, and expressions of grief.
Yes, 哭 can be used in both contexts, but in formal situations, emotional expressions might be more subdued.
Synonyms include '哭泣' (kū qì) for weeping and '流泪' (liú lèi) for shedding tears.
