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March 24, 2026
闯(闖)chuǎng(chuang3)
The character 闯 (chuǎng) means to rush or charge forward, often with a sense of urgency or determination. It can be used to describe physically rushing into a space, as well as metaphorically in the context of overcoming challenges or breaking through obstacles. This word is commonly used when discussing taking risks or pushing oneself in difficult situations.
Strokes6Radical门Frequency#3799DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of 闯 can reflect a proactive attitude towards life's challenges, often celebrated in stories of individuals who 'charge through' adversity to achieve their goals, echoing the values of perseverance and resilience.
Memory Tip
Imagine a brave warrior, bursting through a gate (the character's radical 门 represents a door) with a fierce determination to conquer the challenges ahead, shouting 'chuǎng!' as they charge in. Visualizing this scene can help you remember both the meaning of 闯 and its pronunciation.
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AI Study Notes for 闯
Quick Contrast
闯 (chuǎng) vs 冲 (chōng): Use 闯 when emphasizing a sense of determination or urgency in overcoming obstacles, whereas 冲 focuses more on the act of rushing or charging without the same connotation of breaking through.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a brave warrior, bursting through a gate (the character's radical 门 represents a door) with a fierce determination to conquer the challenges ahead, shouting 'chuǎng!' as they charge in. Visualizing this scene can help you remember both the meaning of 闯 and its pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 闯 with similar-sounding words that have different meanings, such as 闯入 (chuǎng rù, to intrude). This word is generally informal and often used in spoken language rather than formal writing. Common collocations include 闯劲 (chuǎng jìn, a spirit of daring) and 闯荡 (chuǎng dàng, to roam or wander freely).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 闯 connects well with other verbs that convey action and movement, such as 跑 (pǎo, to run) and 走 (zǒu, to walk). Focus on using 闯 in various sentence structures to express both physical actions and metaphorical challenges.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of 闯 can reflect a proactive attitude towards life's challenges, often celebrated in stories of individuals who 'charge through' adversity to achieve their goals, echoing the values of perseverance and resilience.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 闯 in contexts requiring a more gentle approach, such as saying '我闯进家里' (I charged into the house), which might be perceived as rude. A better phrasing would be '我走进家里' (I walked into the house).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 闯
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Grammar Patterns of 闯
闯 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 6 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.
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3
Used to emphasize the action of rushing or charging in a specific context.
❝
我就是闯进来的。
Wǒ jiù shì chuǎng jìn lái de.
I rushed in.
Exercise 1 of 1
Build the Sentence
I rushed in.
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Usage Notes for 闯
Misusing 闯 in non-physical contextsCommon Error
Learners often use 闯 only in physical contexts, but it can also be used metaphorically.
1
他在工作中也要勇敢地闯。
He also needs to bravely charge forward in his work.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
他在工作中也要勇敢地____。
He also needs to bravely charge forward in his work.
Example Sentences for 闯 (10)
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1
这支队伍一路拼杀闯进了杯赛的决赛。
zhè zhī duì wǔ yī lù pīn shā chuǎng jìn le bēi sài de jué sài。
The team has fought its way to the cup final.
2
他是当下仍旧活跃的最有闯劲、最具想象力的爵士乐钢琴师之一。
tā shì dāng xià réng jiù huó yuè de zuì yǒu chuǎng jìn、 、 zuì jù xiǎng xiàng lì de jué shì lè gāng qín shī zhī。
He's one of the most dynamically imaginative jazz pianists still functioning.
3
两个少年闯进了琼斯先生的母亲家里行窃。
liǎng gè shǎo nián chuǎng jìn le qióng sī xiān shēng de mǔ qīn jiā lǐ háng qiè。
Two teenagers burgled the home of Mr Jones's mother.
The jet entered Chinese airspace without permission.
5
所有的门都用砖堵了起来，防止破坏分子闯入。
suǒ yǒu de mén dū yòng zhuān dǔ le qǐ lái， ， fáng zhǐ pò huài fēn zǐ chuǎng。
All the doors have been bricked up to deter vandals.
6
他在2比4落后的情况下实现逆转闯进1/4决赛。
tā zài2 24 bǐ 4 luò hòu de qíng kuàng xià shí xiàn nì zhuǎn1/4 chuǎng jìn。
He recovered from a 4-2 deficit to reach the quarter-finals.
7
她作为喜剧演员已经闯出了一片天地。
tā zuò wéi xǐ jù yǎn yuán yǐ jīng chuǎng chū le yī piàn tiān dì。
She has carved a niche for herself as a comic actor.
8
门猛地开了，米兰达闯进房间。
mén měng dì kāi le， ， mǐ lán dá chuǎng jìn fáng。
The door flew open and Miranda tore into the room.
9
有人强行撬开落地窗上的锁闯入屋里。
yǒu rén qiáng háng qiào kāi luò dì chuāng shàng de suǒ chuǎng rù wū lǐ。
An intruder forced open a lock on French windows at the house.
10
他听得见弟兄在洞里东闯西撞.
tā tīng dé jiàn dì xiōng zài dòng lǐ dōng chuǎng xī zhuàng.
He could hear the men thrashing about in the cave.
Cultural Notes for 闯
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the act of 闯 can reflect a proactive attitude towards life's challenges, often celebrated in stories of individuals who 'charge through' adversity to achieve their goals, echoing the values of perseverance and resilience.
Word Family of 闯
Words Containing This Character11
闯chuǎngto rush闖
闯进to burst in闖進
闯入to intrude闖入
闯荡to leave home to make one's way in the world闖蕩
闯红灯to run a red light闖紅燈
闯祸to make trouble闖禍
闯关to crash through a barrier闖關
闯王Chuangwang or Roaming King, adopted name of late Ming peasant rebel leader Li Zicheng 李自成 (1605-1645)闖王
走南闯北to travel extensively走南闖北
闯荡江湖to travel around the country闖蕩江湖
闯关者gate-crasher闖關者
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 闯 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 闯
Yes, 闯 can also metaphorically describe rushing into emotional situations, like taking bold steps in relationships.
Yes, it is frequently used in informal contexts, particularly among younger speakers.
While both can mean to rush, 冲 often implies a more aggressive or forceful action, whereas 闯 can suggest a sense of adventure or exploration.
