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March 24, 2026
触(觸)chù(chu4)
The character 触 (chù) primarily means 'to touch' or 'to make contact with something.' It can also imply stirring up emotions or feelings in someone. This verb is often used in both physical contexts, such as touching an object, and emotional contexts, such as touching someone's heart.
Strokes13Radical角Frequency#3749DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressions of emotion are often conveyed through physical contact, making 触 a significant term in contexts like art, literature, and personal relationships. The concept of 'touching one's heart' is vital in traditional storytelling.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person touching a soft surface and feeling a wave of emotion surge through them. The character 触 consists of the radical for 'hand' (扌) which emphasizes the action of touching, combined with the character for 'to meet' (逐), suggesting contact and connection.
Meanings of 触
chù(chu4)
1to touch
2to make contact with sth
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 触
触Simplified
觸Traditional
13Strokes
角Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3749Frequency Rank
Podcast: 触
Podcast: 触
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AI Study Notes for 触
Quick Contrast
碰 (pèng) vs 触 (chù): use 触 when emphasizing emotional impact or a more delicate touch, while 碰 implies a more casual or forceful contact.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person touching a soft surface and feeling a wave of emotion surge through them. The character 触 consists of the radical for 'hand' (扌) which emphasizes the action of touching, combined with the character for 'to meet' (逐), suggesting contact and connection.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 触 with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. 触 is more formal and is often used in literary or emotional contexts. Common collocations include 触动 (chùdòng - to touch emotionally) and 触碰 (chùpèng - to touch lightly).
HSK Study Tips
While 触 is not listed in HSK levels, it connects with other HSK vocabulary that deals with emotions and physical actions. Focus on its usage in emotional contexts and practice with common phrases to build familiarity.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressions of emotion are often conveyed through physical contact, making 触 a significant term in contexts like art, literature, and personal relationships. The concept of 'touching one's heart' is vital in traditional storytelling.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 触 with 触摸 (chùmō), which specifically means 'to feel or touch with the hand.' For example, saying '我触摸她的心' (I touch her heart) is incorrect; instead, use '我触动她的心' (I touch her heart emotionally).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 触
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Grammar Patterns of 触
触 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 4 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.
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Cultural Notes for 触
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, expressions of emotion are often conveyed through physical contact, making 触 a significant term in contexts like art, literature, and personal relationships. The concept of 'touching one's heart' is vital in traditional storytelling.
Word Family of 触
Words Containing This Character20
接触jiēchùto touch接觸
触chùto touch觸
触摸chùmōto touch觸摸
触动chùdòngto touch觸動
触及to touch on (a topic)觸及
触发to trigger觸發
触犯chùfànto violate觸犯
抵触dǐchùto conflict抵觸
触手tentacle觸手
触角antenna觸角
一触即发on the verge一觸即發
触电to be electrocuted觸電
触目惊心chùmùjīngxīnhorrible to see觸目驚心
触觉chùjuétouch觸覺
触碰to touch觸碰
感触gǎnchùmoved感觸
突触synapse突觸
触怒to anger sb觸怒
触发器flip-flop (electronics)觸發器
触礁(fig.) to hit a snag觸礁
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 接触 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 触
Some synonyms for 触 (chù) include 触摸 (chùmō), which specifically means 'to touch' or 'to feel,' and 接触 (jiēchù), which means 'to make contact.' These terms can be used interchangeably in many contexts, but each carries its nuances depending on the situation.
Yes, 触 (chù) can be found in idiomatic expressions such as 触景生情 (chù jǐng shēng qíng), which translates to 'to be reminded of one's emotions by a scene.' This expression illustrates how a physical touch or sight can evoke emotional memories.
触 (chù) means 'to touch' or 'to make contact with something.' It can also imply stirring up someone's emotions, indicating a deeper connection or impact. This character is often used in contexts involving physical touch or emotional resonance.
You can use 触 in a sentence like '他轻轻地触摸了她的手' (Tā qīngqīng de chùmō le tā de shǒu), which means 'He gently touched her hand.' It can also be used in more abstract contexts, such as '这部电影触动了我的心' (Zhè bù diànyǐng chùdòng le wǒ de xīn), meaning 'This movie touched my heart.'
Common phrases include 触动 (to touch emotionally) and 触碰 (to lightly touch).
Yes, 触 is versatile but leans more towards formal usage, especially in literary contexts.
No, while it primarily means 'to touch,' it also conveys emotional contact.
