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March 24, 2026
畏惧(畏懼)wèijù(wei4ju4)
畏惧 refers to a strong feeling of fear or dread towards something. It is often used in contexts where there is a sense of foreboding or anxiety about future events, indicating a deeper emotional response than just simple fear.
Frequency#8412DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of fear is often tied to superstitions and respect for the unknown, which can be seen in traditional beliefs about ghosts and spirits, making畏惧 a relevant word in discussions about folklore.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (the character components) who is afraid of a looming shadow (the meaning of畏惧). The '畏' part can be visualized as a person cowering, while '惧' could represent a ghostly figure, reinforcing the feeling of dread. The pronunciation 'wei4 ju4' can be remembered by thinking of 'way to fear' and 'dread' in an exaggerated, comedic way.
Meanings of 畏惧
wèijù(wei4ju4)
1to fear
2to dread
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 畏惧
畏惧Simplified
畏懼Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#8412Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 畏惧
Podcast: 畏惧
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AI Study Notes for 畏惧
Quick Contrast
畏惧 (wèijù) vs 恐惧 (kǒngjù) — choose 畏惧 when emphasizing a deeper emotional dread or anxiety, while 恐惧 is more about basic fear.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person (the character components) who is afraid of a looming shadow (the meaning of畏惧). The '畏' part can be visualized as a person cowering, while '惧' could represent a ghostly figure, reinforcing the feeling of dread. The pronunciation 'wei4 ju4' can be remembered by thinking of 'way to fear' and 'dread' in an exaggerated, comedic way.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 畏惧, as it is crucial to convey the correct meaning. This word is more formal and is often used in literary or serious contexts. Common collocations include 畏惧心理 (fear psychology) and 畏惧感 (sense of dread).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 畏惧 connects with other advanced vocabulary expressing emotions and psychological states. Students should focus on its usage in literature and formal discussions, as well as contrast it with simpler words for fear like 害怕 (hài pà).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of fear is often tied to superstitions and respect for the unknown, which can be seen in traditional beliefs about ghosts and spirits, making畏惧 a relevant word in discussions about folklore.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 畏惧 with 害怕, using them interchangeably in contexts where the emotional weight differs. For example, saying '我对考试畏惧' (I fear the exam) is correct, while using 害怕 would lessen the intensity of the feeling.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 畏惧
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Grammar Patterns of 畏惧
畏惧 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
我压根不认为她会有所____。
I don't believe for one minute she would have been scared.
Example Sentences for 畏惧 (4)
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1
我压根不认为她会有所畏惧。
wǒ yā gēn bù rèn wéi tā huì yǒu suǒ wèi jù。
I don't believe for one minute she would have been scared.
2
霍华德想成为流行歌手，但因怯场而心生畏惧。
huò huá dé xiǎng chéng wéi liú háng gē shǒu， ， dàn yīn qiè cháng ér xīn shēng wèi。
Howard wanted to be a popular singer, but stage fright crippled him.
" You better be fearless and confident yourself, old man, " he said.
4
她抓起一把刀,毫不畏惧地对着这个男子.
tā zhuā qǐ yī bǎ dāo, , háo bù wèi jù dì duì zháo zhè gè nán.
She whipped up a knife and faced the man bravely.
Cultural Notes for 畏惧
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of fear is often tied to superstitions and respect for the unknown, which can be seen in traditional beliefs about ghosts and spirits, making畏惧 a relevant word in discussions about folklore.
Frequently Asked Questions about 畏惧
While both mean 'to fear,' 畏惧 conveys a deeper sense of dread or anxiety, often related to future events, whereas 害怕 is more about immediate fear.
It's more commonly found in formal writing or discussions rather than casual conversation, where simpler terms might be preferred.
You might hear phrases like 畏惧未来 (fear of the future) or 表达畏惧 (expressing fear), which are useful for more advanced discussions.
