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March 24, 2026
打喷嚏(打噴嚏)dǎpēntì(da3pen1ti4)
打喷嚏 (dǎ pēntì) means 'to sneeze.' It is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese when referring to the act of sneezing, often in contexts related to allergies, colds, or environmental irritants. The term can also be used metaphorically to describe sudden reactions or surprises.
Frequency#14346DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Sneezing is sometimes associated with superstitions in Chinese culture, where a sneeze may indicate someone is talking about you. This adds a layer of social awareness to the act of sneezing that may not be as prominent in Western cultures.
Memory Tip
Think of '打' (dǎ) as 'to hit' and '喷嚏' (pēntì) as 'to spray' or 'to burst out,' as sneezing involves a sudden burst of air. Imagine a person getting hit by a tickle in their nose that causes them to spray their surroundings with a sneeze.
Meanings of 打喷嚏
dǎpēntì(da3pen1ti4)
1to sneeze
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About 打喷嚏
打喷嚏Simplified
打噴嚏Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#14346Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L7TOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 打喷嚏
Podcast: 打喷嚏
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AI Study Notes for 打喷嚏
Memory Mnemonic
Think of '打' (dǎ) as 'to hit' and '喷嚏' (pēntì) as 'to spray' or 'to burst out,' as sneezing involves a sudden burst of air. Imagine a person getting hit by a tickle in their nose that causes them to spray their surroundings with a sneeze.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing this word, as mispronouncing the tones can lead to confusion. It is often used in informal contexts, but you can also hear it in medical discussions regarding health. Common collocations include '打喷嚏了' (I sneezed) or '我想打喷嚏' (I want to sneeze).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 打喷嚏 connects to other vocabulary related to health and bodily functions. Students should focus on the pronunciation and practice using it in sentences about health or allergies.
Cultural Note
Sneezing is sometimes associated with superstitions in Chinese culture, where a sneeze may indicate someone is talking about you. This adds a layer of social awareness to the act of sneezing that may not be as prominent in Western cultures.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse the tones and say 'da4 pen1 ti4' instead of 'da3 pen1 ti4.' Always remember that the first syllable has a falling tone (third tone). Additionally, some might forget to use the complete phrase and just say '喷嚏' (pēntì) without the context of sneezing.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 打喷嚏
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Grammar Patterns of 打喷嚏
打喷嚏 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. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
艾伦的脸皱了起来，好像要____。
Ellen's face wrinkles as if she is about to sneeze.
Example Sentences for 打喷嚏 (5)
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1
艾伦的脸皱了起来，好像要打喷嚏。
ài lún de liǎn zhòu le qǐ lái， ， hǎo xiàng yào dǎ pēn。
Ellen's face wrinkles as if she is about to sneeze.
Put a handkerchief over your mouth when you sneeze.
5
我快14岁了, 还老打喷嚏, 的鼻炎, 咋 办 ?
wǒ kuài14 14 suì, le , huán lǎo dǎ, pēn tì ,, de bí?
I am fast 14 years old, return old sneeze, rhinitis, do how?
Cultural Notes for 打喷嚏
🏮Cultural insight
Sneezing is sometimes associated with superstitions in Chinese culture, where a sneeze may indicate someone is talking about you. This adds a layer of social awareness to the act of sneezing that may not be as prominent in Western cultures.
Frequently Asked Questions about 打喷嚏
You can say '我打了一个喷嚏' (wǒ dǎle yīgè pēntì).
While 打喷嚏 is commonly used, you might also hear '喷嚏' (pēntì) used on its own in some formal medical contexts.
You can say '对不起，我打喷嚏了' (duìbùqǐ, wǒ dǎ pēntìle), which means 'Sorry, I sneezed.'
