Chinese Conversation · Level 2
86 words
Chinese word
哭
Pronunciation
Pinyinkū
Meaning
- verbcry
Example
孩子摔倒了，马上就哭了。hái zi shuāi dǎo le mǎ shàng jiù kū le
The child fell down and immediately cried.
More examples
他想起往事，忍不住哭起来。tā xiáng qǐ wǎng shì rěn bú zhù kū qǐ lái
He remembered the past and could not help but start crying.
Core concept
A strong feeling spills outward as tears, broken breaths, and an audible voice.
Common phrases
哭起来kū qǐ lái
start crying
哭着说kū zhe shuō
say while crying
哭得很厉害kū de hěn lì hài
cry hard
Similar words
叫jiào: Use a loud voice to attract attention or request help.
Definition in Chinese
因悲伤、疼痛、恐惧或强烈情绪而发出声音，常伴随流泪或抽泣的动作或状态。yīn bēi shāng téng tòng kǒng jù huò qiáng liè qíng xù ér fā chū shēng yīn cháng bàn suí liú lèi huò chōu qì de dòng zuò huò zhuàng tài
Word origin
The written form 哭 (kū, "cry") is traditionally explained as 吅 (xuān, "two mouths") + 犬 (quǎn, "dog"), linking the word with mouths making a mournful sound while 犬 serves as a phonetic element.
Usage tips
- When the amount or sound of crying matters, Chinese commonly adds a word for degree or manner instead of leaving the intensity only to context.