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慌张 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
慌张huāngzhāngconfusedHSK 7, a, rank #11861, Hard
慌张huāngzhāngflusteredHSK 7, a, rank #11861, Hard
huāngzhāng(huang1zhang1) T1
  1. 1confused
  2. 2flustered
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
慌张(慌張)huāngzhāng(huang1zhang1)

慌张 (huāngzhāng) describes a state of being flustered or confused, often due to anxiety or unexpected situations. It is commonly used to express feelings of panic or a lack of composure in stressful circumstances, such as during a surprise event or when facing a challenging problem.

Frequency#11861DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, showing calmness in stressful situations is often valued, making the expression of being 慌张 noteworthy as it reflects a departure from this norm. It can also relate to the concept of 'face' (面子), where losing composure could lead to losing face in social situations.

Memory Tip

Think of '慌' as a person running around wildly, looking '张' (like a stretched-out piece of fabric) in every direction, symbolizing confusion. The character's components evoke imagery of chaos and disarray, helping you remember that '慌张' means to be flustered.

Meanings of 慌张

huāngzhāng(huang1zhang1)
1confused
2flustered
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 慌张

慌张Simplified
慌張Traditional
Strokes
Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#11861Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 慌张

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Podcast: 慌张

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AI Study Notes for 慌张

Quick Contrast

慌乱 (huāngluàn) - use 慌张 when emphasizing a state of flustered confusion, while 慌乱 suggests a more chaotic or disordered state.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of '慌' as a person running around wildly, looking '张' (like a stretched-out piece of fabric) in every direction, symbolizing confusion. The character's components evoke imagery of chaos and disarray, helping you remember that '慌张' means to be flustered.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 慌张 with similar words like 紧张 (jǐnzhāng), which means nervous rather than flustered. This expression is more informal, so it's suitable for everyday conversations but might not fit in formal writing. Common phrases include '慌张得说不出话' (flustered to the point of being speechless).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, 慌张 connects with other emotional and descriptive vocabulary at this level. Students should focus on using it in sentences to describe their feelings in various scenarios, enhancing their emotional expression in Mandarin.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, showing calmness in stressful situations is often valued, making the expression of being 慌张 noteworthy as it reflects a departure from this norm. It can also relate to the concept of 'face' (面子), where losing composure could lead to losing face in social situations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 慌张 with 轻松 (qīngsōng), which means relaxed. For example, saying '我很慌张' (I am relaxed) is incorrect; it should be '我很慌张' (I am flustered).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 慌张

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Component Characters

huāngto get panicky
HSK 712 strokes
View full entry
zhāngto open up
HSK 37 strokes
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Write 慌张

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

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Grammar Patterns of 慌张

慌张 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高,not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

塞西尔此时开始____起来,连忙发射了两枚遇险信号火箭。

Cecil now began to panic and fired off two distress rockets.

Example Sentences for 慌张 (3)

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1
塞西尔此时开始慌张起来,连忙发射了两枚遇险信号火箭。

sāi xī ěr cǐ shí kāi shǐ huāng zhāng qǐ lái, , lián máng fā shè le liǎng méi yù xiǎn xìn hào huǒ。

Cecil now began to panic and fired off two distress rockets.
2
艾姆斯从她慌张的眼神推断出她花光了钱.

ài mǔ sī cóng tā huāng zhāng de yǎn shén tuī duàn chū tā huā guāng le qián.

Imes concluded from her fluttered look that she had spent the money.
3
不速之客的到来弄得她很慌张.

bù sù zhī kè de dào lái nòng dé tā hěn huāng zhāng.

She was put in a fluster by the unexpected guests.

Cultural Notes for 慌张

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, showing calmness in stressful situations is often valued, making the expression of being 慌张 noteworthy as it reflects a departure from this norm. It can also relate to the concept of 'face' (面子), where losing composure could lead to losing face in social situations.

Frequently Asked Questions about 慌张

Yes, 慌张 typically conveys a sense of distress or anxiety, so it is used in contexts where someone feels overwhelmed or confused.