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酗酒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
酗酒xùjiǔheavy drinkingHSK 7, v, rank #4098, Hard
酗酒xùjiǔto get drunkHSK 7, v, rank #4098, Hard
酗酒xùjiǔto drink to excessHSK 7, v, rank #4098, Hard
xùjiǔ(xu4jiu3) T4
  1. 1heavy drinking
  2. 2to get drunk
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March 24, 2026
酗酒xùjiǔ(xu4jiu3)

酗酒 refers to the act of drinking alcohol excessively or heavily, often leading to drunkenness. This term is commonly used in contexts discussing alcohol abuse or addiction, emphasizing the negative consequences of such behavior.

Frequency#4098DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, discussions about alcohol consumption can be sensitive, especially concerning family reputation and social standing. Excessive drinking is often seen as a personal failing, reflecting broader societal values around moderation and responsibility.

Memory Tip

Think of 酗 (xù) as a 'sue' for drinking too much, where '酒' (jiǔ) clearly means 'alcohol'. Visualize someone being sued for heavy drinking, which sticks in your mind as both the action of excessive drinking and the concept of consequences.

Meanings of 酗酒

xùjiǔ(xu4jiu3)
1heavy drinking
2to get drunk
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 酗酒

酗酒Simplified
Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4098Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 酗酒

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Podcast: 酗酒

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AI Study Notes for 酗酒

Quick Contrast

酗酒 (xùjiǔ) vs 喝酒 (hējiǔ): use 酗酒 when referring to excessive drinking with negative consequences, while 喝酒 simply means to drink alcohol, without the implication of excess.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 酗 (xù) as a 'sue' for drinking too much, where '酒' (jiǔ) clearly means 'alcohol'. Visualize someone being sued for heavy drinking, which sticks in your mind as both the action of excessive drinking and the concept of consequences.

Usage Notes

酗酒 is typically used in a negative context, so it's important to avoid using it in informal settings or light-hearted conversations. Be mindful of the tone; using it to describe someone’s drinking habits can come across as judgmental.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 酗酒 connects with various vocabulary related to health and lifestyle, such as 健康 (jiànkāng, health) and 嗜好 (shìhào, hobby). Focus on understanding its implications in discussions about health and social issues.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, discussions about alcohol consumption can be sensitive, especially concerning family reputation and social standing. Excessive drinking is often seen as a personal failing, reflecting broader societal values around moderation and responsibility.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 酗酒 with 喝酒, mistakenly using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我酗酒每周' (I drink every week) should be corrected to '我每周喝酒' (I drink alcohol every week) unless implying excessive drinking.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 酗酒

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Component Characters

drunk
11 strokes
View full entry
jiǔwine (esp. rice wine)
HSK 310 strokes
View full entry

Write 酗酒

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Grammar Patterns of 酗酒

酗酒 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 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

他现在正为____付出沉重的代价。

He drank too much and is paying dearly for it.

Example Sentences for 酗酒 (10)

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1
他现在正为酗酒付出沉重的代价。

tā xiàn zài zhèng wéi xù jiǔ fù chū chén zhòng de dài jià。

He drank too much and is paying dearly for it.
2
他以极大的勇气承认自己酗酒。

tā yǐ jí dà de yǒng qì chéng rèn zì jǐ xù jiǔ。

He showed great courage by admitting that he is an alcoholic.
3
他个人的心魔让他多年以来酗酒度日。

tā gè rén de xīn mó ràng tā duō nián yǐ lái xù jiǔ dù rì。

His private demons drove him to drink excessively for many years.
4
许多人都患有能够辨识的酗酒、吸毒或心理障碍。

xǔ duō rén dū huàn yǒu néng gòu biàn shí de xù jiǔ、 、 xī dú huò xīn lǐ zhàng。

Many suffered from a definable alcohol, drug, or mental disorder.
5
孕妇酗酒可能会危及腹中胎儿。

yùn fù xù jiǔ kě néng huì wēi jí fù zhōng tāi ér。

Pregnant women who are heavy drinkers risk damaging the unborn foetus.
6
当然,并不是所有的酗酒者和吸毒者都会生育出不正常的后代。

dāng rán, , bìng bù shì suǒ yǒu de xù jiǔ zhě hé xī dú zhě dū huì shēng yù chū bù zhèng cháng de hòu。

Of course, not all alcoholics and drug abusers produce deviant offspring.
7
在1985年,他开始表现出酗酒嗜毒的迹象。

zài1985 1985, nián , tā kāi shǐ biǎo xiàn chū xù jiǔ shì dú de。

In 1985, he began to show signs of alcohol and drug dependency.
8
设置“理智饮酒日”的主要目的是让人们了解酗酒的恶果。

shè zhì“ “ lǐ zhì yǐn jiǔ” rì ” de zhǔ yào mù de shì ràng rén mén le jiě xù jiǔ de。

Drinkwise Day is mainly designed to educate people about the destructive effects of alcohol abuse.
9
他的事业一落千丈,开始酗酒吸毒以寻求慰借.

tā de shì yè yī luò qiān zhàng, , kāi shǐ xù jiǔ xī dú yǐ xún qiú wèi.

His career took a nosedive and he turned to drink and drugs for solace.
10
这只是为让那些酗酒者戒酒所尝试的方法之一。

zhè zhī shì wéi ràng nà xiē xù jiǔ zhě jiè jiǔ suǒ cháng shì de fāng fǎ zhī yī。

This is but one of the methods used to try and get alcoholics to give up drink.

Cultural Notes for 酗酒

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, discussions about alcohol consumption can be sensitive, especially concerning family reputation and social standing. Excessive drinking is often seen as a personal failing, reflecting broader societal values around moderation and responsibility.

Frequently Asked Questions about 酗酒

喝酒 (hē jiǔ) simply means 'to drink alcohol,' while 酗酒 implies drinking to excess or irresponsibly.