HSK 7, zg, 15 strokes, radical 心, rank #6270, Hard
憋
biē
to stifle
HSK 7, zg, 15 strokes, radical 心, rank #6270, Hard
憋
biē
to restrain
HSK 7, zg, 15 strokes, radical 心, rank #6270, Hard
憋
biē
to hold back
HSK 7, zg, 15 strokes, radical 心, rank #6270, Hard
憋
biē
to hold in (urine)
HSK 7, zg, 15 strokes, radical 心, rank #6270, Hard
憋
biē
to hold (one's breath)
HSK 7, zg, 15 strokes, radical 心, rank #6270, Hard
憋
biē
to stifle, to restrain, to choke; to suppress one's inner feelings
HSK 7, zg, 15 strokes, radical 心, rank #6270, Hard
biē(bie1) T1
1to choke
2to stifle
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March 24, 2026
憋biē(bie1)
The character 憋 (biē) conveys the meaning of restraining or holding back something, whether it's emotions, physical urges, or even breath. It is often used in contexts where one might feel pressure not to express themselves or to physically suppress a natural action, like holding in urine. This word can carry a connotation of discomfort due to the act of stifling.
Strokes15Radical心Frequency#6270DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the idea of holding back emotions is often linked to the concept of '面子' (face), where showing strong emotions can be seen as losing face. Thus, 憋 reflects both a physical and social aspect of restraint.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person named 'Bie' who is trying to hold their breath under water. The character 憋 has the heart radical (忄), suggesting emotional weight, while the other part implies physical restraint. Visualize 'Bie' turning blue from holding his breath too long to connect the sound and meaning.
Meanings of 憋
biē(bie1)
1to choke
2to stifle
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 憋
憋Simplified
15Strokes
心Radical
状态词zgav (stat.)Part of Speech
#6270Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 憋
Podcast: 憋
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AI Study Notes for 憋
Quick Contrast
憋 (biē) vs 忍 (rěn) — use 憋 when emphasizing the physical act of holding back, whereas 忍 focuses more on enduring or tolerating discomfort.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person named 'Bie' who is trying to hold their breath under water. The character 憋 has the heart radical (忄), suggesting emotional weight, while the other part implies physical restraint. Visualize 'Bie' turning blue from holding his breath too long to connect the sound and meaning.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 憋 with similar-sounding words that might convey different emotions or actions. It is more commonly used in informal speech, but can be appropriate in conversational contexts. Common collocations include '憋气' (to hold one's breath) and '憋屈' (to feel stifled).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 憋 is a good example of vocabulary that depicts nuanced emotional and physical states. Students should focus on the contexts where it is used, especially in idiomatic expressions. Connecting this word with related terms like '压抑' (to suppress) will deepen understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the idea of holding back emotions is often linked to the concept of '面子' (face), where showing strong emotions can be seen as losing face. Thus, 憋 reflects both a physical and social aspect of restraint.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 憋 with similar terms like '压抑' (yāyì), which specifically means to suppress feelings. A common mistake is saying '憋心' instead of '憋气' when referring to holding breath.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 憋
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Grammar Patterns of 憋
憋 carries 7 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我得找人说说。我心里____不住。
I have to tell someone. I can't keep it to myself.
Example Sentences for 憋 (10)
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1
我得找人说说。我心里憋不住。
wǒ dé zhǎo rén shuō shuō。 。 wǒ xīn lǐ biē bù。
I have to tell someone. I can't keep it to myself.
2
把问题说出来，别都憋在心里。
bǎ wèn tí shuō chū lái， ， bié dū biē zài xīn。
Talk out your problems. Do not keep them bottled up.
My chest feels rather tight, eg because of asthma.
6
呵! 我算是舒了口气,这口气差点没把我憋死.
hē! ! wǒ suàn shì shū le kǒu, qì , zhè kǒu qì chà diǎn méi bǎ wǒ.
Ah! Something has gone off my breast that was like to choke me.
7
他平日非常的勤紧, 现在他憋着口气来做事.
tā píng rì fēi cháng de qín jǐn, , xiàn zài tā biē zháo kǒu qì lái zuò.
Normally so willing, he now worked with a feeling of resentment.
8
恺憋了一肚子闷气,突然向他爆发出来: “ 这话到底是什么意思?
kǎi biē le yī dù zǐ mèn qì, , tū rán xiàng tā bào fā chū:“ lái : “ zhè huà dào dǐ shì shí mó?
Kay blazed out at him. " What the hell does that mean?
9
他憋住气,听了听.
tā biē zhù qì, , tīng le.
His breath stopped and he listened.
10
他只想大声叫一阵, 他觉得自己快要憋得透不过气来了.
tā zhī xiǎng dà shēng jiào yī zhèn, , tā jué dé zì jǐ kuài yào biē dé tòu bù guò qì lái.
He wanted to shout; he was suffocating.
Cultural Notes for 憋
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the idea of holding back emotions is often linked to the concept of '面子' (face), where showing strong emotions can be seen as losing face. Thus, 憋 reflects both a physical and social aspect of restraint.
Word Family of 憋
Words Containing This Character4
憋biēto choke
憋气to choke with resentment憋氣
憋屈sullen
憋闷to feel oppressed憋悶
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 憋 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 憋
Generally, 憋 is used more in informal contexts and spoken language, so it's best to avoid it in formal writing.
A common phrase is '憋气' (to hold one's breath) and '憋屈' (to feel stifled).
While it mostly has negative connotations, such as discomfort, it can imply self-control in certain contexts.
