吓
Character learning workspace

hè / xià · to scare, to frighten

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 5HSK 3.0 · Level 6Frequency #1856
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Learn every stroke in 吓

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

吓 has 2 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

hè

to scare; to intimidate; to threaten

恐吓kǒng hè · to threaten
xià

to frighten; to scare

惊吓jīng xià · to frighten
Step-by-step explorer

See how 吓 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

6Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

口Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 吓 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 吓

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

hèto scare; to intimidate; to threaten
xiàto frighten; to scare
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 吓 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ hěn shòu jīng xià de.我很受惊吓的。

I was terribly frightened.

Source: Tatoeba #735392 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ bú shì gù yì xiàhu nǐ de.我不是故意吓唬你的。

I didn't mean to spook you.

Source: Tatoeba #4762201 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè bù kǒng bù piàn hěn xià rén, wǒ yí kàn jiù shuì bù zhe jué le.这部恐怖片很吓人,我一看就睡不着觉了。

This horror movie is really scary. I couldn't sleep after I watched it.

Source: Tatoeba #647749 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ hú luàn dǎ qiāng, huì xià pǎo liè wù de.你胡乱打枪,会吓跑猎物的。

Your random firing will scare away the prey.

Source: Tatoeba #9306465 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Yì kāi tóu tā xià huài le , hòu lái cái dìng xià shén lái.一开头她吓坏了, 后来才定下神来。

At first she was terrified, then she pulled herself together.

Source: Tatoeba #12568856 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Hóuzi tiào dào tā shēn shàng de shí hòu, tā shòu dào le jīng xià.猴子跳到他身上的时候,他受到了惊吓。

He was scared when the monkey jumped at him.

Source: Tatoeba #389416 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 吓 in context

  1. Say hè / xià, then recall the core meaning: to scare, to frighten.
  2. Write all 6 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 惊吓 (jīng xià), meaning “to frighten”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 吓 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.