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脆 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
脆cuìold variant of 脆[cuì]HSK 6, a, 10 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #7415, Hard
脆cuìfragile, frail; brittle, crispHSK 6, a, 10 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #7415, Hard
脆cuìold variant of 脆[cui4]HSK 6, unknown, 10 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #7415, Hard, attributive
脆cuìcrunchyHSK 6, unknown, 10 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #7415, Hard
脆cuìclear and loud voiceHSK 6, unknown, 10 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #7415, Hard
脆cuìneatHSK 6, unknown, 10 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #7415, Hard
cuì(cui4) T4
  1. 1old variant of 脆[cuì]
  2. 2fragile, frail; brittle, crisp
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March 24, 2026
脆(脃)cuì(cui4)

The character 脆 (cuì) describes something that is fragile, brittle, or crisp. It is commonly used in contexts related to food, such as describing the crispiness of snacks or the tenderness of certain fruits, and can also refer to sounds that are clear and loud, or a neat appearance.

Strokes10Radical⺼Frequency#7415DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, the texture of food is highly valued, and terms like 脆 are frequently used to describe dishes, emphasizing the cultural importance of texture in culinary experiences.

Memory Tip

Imagine a delicate piece of glass (脆) that shatters easily. The left part of the character, 月, can remind you of a 'moon' that is fragile and beautiful, while the right part, the 'foot' radical, suggests being careful when walking on a brittle surface.

Meanings of 脆

cuì(cui4)
1fragile, frail; brittle, crisp
2crunchy
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 脆

脆Simplified
脃Traditional
10Strokes
⺼Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#7415Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 脆

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Podcast: 脆

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AI Study Notes for 脆

Quick Contrast

脆 (cuì) vs 酥 (sū) — use 脆 for something that is crisp or brittle, while 酥 refers specifically to something flaky or tender, often in baked goods.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a delicate piece of glass (脆) that shatters easily. The left part of the character, 月, can remind you of a 'moon' that is fragile and beautiful, while the right part, the 'foot' radical, suggests being careful when walking on a brittle surface.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 脆 (cuì) with similar-sounding characters. It's often used in both formal and informal contexts but is most common in everyday conversations about food. Common collocations include 脆皮 (crisp skin) and 脆弱 (fragile).

HSK Study Tips

Although 脆 is not strictly in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with related words like 脆弱 (fragile) and 脆皮 (crisp skin), which can be useful in describing textures. Students should focus on pronunciation and usage in food-related contexts.

Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, the texture of food is highly valued, and terms like 脆 are frequently used to describe dishes, emphasizing the cultural importance of texture in culinary experiences.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 脆 (cuì) with similar-sounding characters like 崔 (cuī), which means 'to urge.' A common mistake is saying '脆弱' as '脆弱' with the wrong tone; ensure to use the correct tone for clarity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 脆

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Etymology of 脆

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Something dangerous 危 to one's flesh ⺼

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 脆?

Decomposition of 脆

IDS Structure⿰⺼危
脆Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
危Wei1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 脆?

Write 脆

脆

Practice writing 脆 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 脆

脆 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 6 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.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

这个人不讲道理，我们干____不和他合作了。

This person is unreasonable — let's just stop working with him.

Example Sentences for 脆 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
一旦你改掉神经脆弱的毛病，便可一往无前。

yī dàn nǐ gǎi diào shén jīng cuì ruò de máo bìng， ， biàn kě yī wǎng wú。

When you've got over your squeamishness, there will be no stopping you.
2
我干脆利落地击球，命中了目标。

wǒ gān cuì lì luò dì jī qiú， ， mìng zhōng le mù。

I struck the ball cleanly and my shot was on target.
3
晚饭就着鲜脆的色拉尝尝这道佳肴。

wǎn fàn jiù zháo xiān cuì de sè lā cháng cháng zhè dào jiā yáo。

Try this tasty dish for supper with a crispy salad.
4
他仍然是维系该国脆弱的政治平衡的支柱。

tā réng rán shì wéi xì gāi guó cuì ruò de zhèng zhì píng héng de zhī zhù。

He remains the anchor of the country's fragile political balance.
5
“很好，”我用干脆的命令性的语气说道。

“ “ hěn，” hǎo ，” wǒ yòng gān cuì de mìng líng xìng de yǔ qì。

"Very well," I said, adopting a crisp authoritative tone.
6
与其他器官相比，人的心脏是不是很脆弱？

yǔ qí tā qì guān xiāng bǐ， ， rén de xīn zāng shì bù shì hěn cuì？

Is the human heart weak in comparison with the other organs?
7
这也许会火上浇油，破坏当前脆弱不稳的休战局面。

zhè yě xǔ huì huǒ shàng jiāo yóu， ， pò huài dāng qián cuì ruò bù wěn de xiū zhàn jú。

This may help to undermine the brittle truce that currently exists.
8
我神经非常脆弱，见到针头就会逃之夭夭。

wǒ shén jīng fēi cháng cuì ruò， ， jiàn dào zhēn tóu jiù huì táo zhī yāo。

I'm very squeamish and when I see needles I run a mile.
9
他们会指责我，或者更糟糕的是，干脆对我毫不理睬。

tā mén huì zhǐ zé wǒ， ， huò zhě gēng zāo gāo de， shì ， gān cuì duì wǒ háo bù。

They would criticize me, or worse yet, pay me no attention.
10
许多十几岁的孩子既缺乏自信又不够懂事，所以感情上十分脆弱。

xǔ duō shí jī suì de hái zǐ jì quē fá zì xìn yòu bù gòu dǒng shì， ， suǒ yǐ gǎn qíng shàng shí fēn cuì。

Lacking self-confidence and maturity, many teenagers are left feeling very vulnerable.

Cultural Notes for 脆

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese cuisine, the texture of food is highly valued, and terms like 脆 are frequently used to describe dishes, emphasizing the cultural importance of texture in culinary experiences.

Word Family of 脆

Words Containing This Character9
干脆gāncuìclear-cut乾脆
脆弱cuìruòweak
脆cuìbrittle
清脆qīngcuìcrisp
干脆利落without fooling around乾脆利落
酥脆crisp (of food)
薄脆crispy
爽脆frank
干脆利索without fooling around乾脆利索
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 干脆 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 脆

It is pronounced as cuì, with a falling tone.