1. Character Basics
2. Pronunciation
3. Meaning
- To cry, to weep
- To sob, to wail
- To mourn, to grieve
4. Common Words
5. Grammar & Usage
The character "哭" is primarily used as a verb meaning "to cry" or "to weep". It can be used alone or in compound words to describe different ways of crying or emotional states involving tears.
她听到这个坏消息就哭了。(Tā tīngdào zhège huài xiāoxi jiù kū le.) - She cried when she heard the bad news.
这个故事太感人了，我看得哭笑不得。(Zhège gùshi tài gǎnrén le, wǒ kàn de kū xiào bù dé.) - This story is so touching that I didn't know whether to laugh or cry while reading it.
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, crying has various meanings depending on the context. Traditional Chinese funerals involve ritualized crying as a sign of respect and grief for the deceased. However, excessive public crying outside of appropriate contexts may be considered inappropriate.
Interestingly, the character "哭" is composed of two "口" (mouth) radicals and "犬" (dog), which some linguists believe may relate to the howling sound of dogs, representing loud weeping.
7. Example Sentence
当孩子找不到妈妈时，他开始大声哭起来。
When the child couldn't find his mother, he started crying loudly.
8. Memory Tips
To remember the character "哭", look at its structure: two "口" (mouth) characters on top of "犬" (dog). Imagine two mouths making the sound of a dog howling - that's crying or weeping. The pronunciation "kū" rhymes with the English word "coo" but with a flat tone.
You can also associate it with common phrases like "哭泣" (kūqì) or think of situations where people cry, such as when they're sad or emotional.