哭 (kū) — to cry, to weep
Definition
Simple everyday verb 'to cry / weep', used when tears come from sadness or pain. 哭泣 is a more formal, written synonym.
verb
to cryto weep
Examples
- ，哭。Tā tài shāng xīn le, kū le qǐ lái.She was so sad that she started crying.
- 哭？Nà ge hái zi wèi shén me yì zhí kū?Why is that child crying all the time?
- 哭，。Bié kū le, mā ma mǎ shàng huí lái.Don't cry, mom will be right back.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
吅吅xuānto speak loudly
Sound part声符shēngfú
獄
獄yù哭kū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
Early 哭 showed 吅, loudly, above a long-haired person; that lower part later became dog-like shapes. Later, 哭 was analyzed as 吅 plus 獄 for sound.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 3 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.