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March 24, 2026
怀(懷)huái(Huai2)
The character 怀 (huái) primarily means 'to harbor' or 'to think of' and can refer to feelings or thoughts kept in one's heart or mind. It is often used in contexts that involve emotions, such as longing or affection, and can also denote the act of conceiving, both in a literal sense and metaphorically in terms of ideas.
Strokes7Radical忄Frequency#3109DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The concept of怀 (huái) is often associated with deep emotional ties in Chinese culture, especially in literature and poetry, where characters express longing or nostalgia. It reflects the importance of emotional expression and connection in Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a heart (心, xīn) cradled in a pair of hands, symbolizing how we carry thoughts and feelings close to us. The character 怀 (huái) combines the concepts of 'heart' and 'holding,' representing the idea of keeping emotions or thoughts close to one's bosom.
Meanings of 怀
huái(Huai2)
1bosom
2heart
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 怀
怀Simplified
懷Traditional
7Strokes
忄Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3109Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6
Podcast: 怀
Podcast: 怀
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AI Study Notes for 怀
Quick Contrast
怀 (huái) vs 思 (sī) — choose 怀 when emphasizing emotional attachment or affection, while 思 focuses on the act of thinking or pondering.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a heart (心, xīn) cradled in a pair of hands, symbolizing how we carry thoughts and feelings close to us. The character 怀 (huái) combines the concepts of 'heart' and 'holding,' representing the idea of keeping emotions or thoughts close to one's bosom.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 怀 (huái) with similar-sounding characters like 还 (hái), which means 'also' or 'still.' It is typically used in more formal contexts when discussing emotions or thoughts. Common collocations include 怀念 (huáiniàn, to miss or remember fondly) and 怀孕 (huái yùn, to be pregnant).
HSK Study Tips
Although 怀 (huái) is not in the official HSK levels, it is relevant for intermediate learners who are expanding their vocabulary around emotions and relationships. Focus on its use in phrases and idioms to deepen understanding and practice.
Cultural Note
The concept of怀 (huái) is often associated with deep emotional ties in Chinese culture, especially in literature and poetry, where characters express longing or nostalgia. It reflects the importance of emotional expression and connection in Chinese society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 怀 (huái) with 还 (hái), mistakenly using 怀 in contexts where 'also' is intended. For example, saying '我怀去商店' instead of '我还去商店' (I also go to the store) is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我还去商店.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 怀
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Grammar Patterns of 怀
怀 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 8 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.
It just lodged in my mind as a very sentimental song.
4
他对大自然怀有一种极为纯粹的乌托邦式看法。
tā duì dà zì rán huái yǒu yī zhǒng jí wéi chún cuì de wū tuō bāng shì kàn fǎ。
His was a utopian vision of nature in its purest form.
5
怀尔德摔倒了，头撞在石头地上。
huái ěr dé shuāi dǎo le， ， tóu zhuàng zài shí tóu dì。
Wilde fell and struck his head on the stone floor.
6
一丝怀旧的微笑浮现在她的脸上。
yī sī huái jiù de wēi xiào fú xiàn zài tā de liǎn shàng。
A faint smile of reminiscence appeared on her face..
7
许多学者仍怀疑是否有变革的需要。
xǔ duō xué zhě réng huái yí shì fǒu yǒu biàn gé de xū yào。
Many academics remain unconvinced of the need for change.
8
附近有一两个人投来怀疑的目光。
fù jìn yǒu yī liǎng gè rén tóu lái huái yí de mù guāng。
There were one or two suspicious looks from nearby.
9
让我们为缅怀他而干杯，好吗？
ràng wǒ mén wéi miǎn huái tā ér gān bēi， ， hǎo？
Let's drink to his memory, eh?
10
他怀念曾经拥有好朋友的时光。
tā huái niàn zēng jīng yōng yǒu hǎo péng yǒu de shí guāng。
He missed having good friends.
Cultural Notes for 怀
💡Did you know?
The character 怀 (Huái) is often associated with feelings of love and affection. In Chinese culture, the heart is symbolically linked to emotions, making this character significant in poetry and romantic expressions.
🏮Cultural insight
The concept of怀 (huái) is often associated with deep emotional ties in Chinese culture, especially in literature and poetry, where characters express longing or nostalgia. It reflects the importance of emotional expression and connection in Chinese society.
Word Family of 怀
Words Containing This Character20
怀疑huáiyíto doubt (sth)懷疑
怀孕huáiyùnpregnant懷孕
怀huáibosom懷
怀念huáiniànto think of懷念
关怀guānhuáicare關懷
怀里huáilǐembrace懷裡
怀抱huáibàoto hug懷抱
满怀mǎnhuái(to collide) full on滿懷
怀旧huáijiùnostalgia懷舊
情怀qínghuáifeelings情懷
胸怀xiōnghuáibreast胸懷
心怀to cherish心懷
释怀to release (tension)釋懷
缅怀miǎnhuáito commemorate緬懷
怀特White (name)懷特
耿耿于怀to take troubles to heart (idiom); brooding耿耿於懷
忘怀to forget忘懷
开怀without restraint開懷
怀表pocket watch懷錶
彭德怀Peng Dehuai (1898-1974), top communist general, subsequently politician and politburo member, disgraced after attacking Mao's failed policies in 1959, and died after extensive persecution during the Cultural Revolution彭德懷
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 怀疑 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 怀
怀 (huái) emphasizes harboring feelings or thoughts, often related to emotional states, while 思 (sī) refers more to the act of thinking or pondering. For example, you might use 怀 when expressing feelings about someone, but 思 is used when discussing logic or reasoning.
怀 (huái) can mean 'to harbor' or 'to conceive' in terms of thoughts or feelings. It also refers to 'heart' or 'mind', indicating emotional or mental states. Additionally, it can be a surname in Chinese.
怀 can be used in various contexts, such as in the phrase 怀念 (huáiniàn), which means 'to miss' or 'to cherish memories of.' You can also say 怀孕 (huáiyùn), meaning 'to be pregnant.' These examples show how the character conveys feelings and states of being.
Yes, but it is often more appropriate in formal or literary contexts.
No, it can also express longing or sadness, depending on the context.
