凶 meaning and stroke order
Vicious; fierce; ominous
How to write 凶, stroke by stroke
4 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Meaning of 凶
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- terrible
- fearful
- vicious
- fierce
- ominous
- inauspicious
How 凶 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A container 凵 of wickedness 乂.
Radical: 凵 (container), shared by 8 characters on this site.
How to remember 凶
Picture an open box 凵 with a cross 乂 marked inside it. The box holds something wicked or dangerous, so 凶 (xiōng) means fierce, vicious, or ominous.
凶 appears in words about violence and crime, like 凶手 (xiōngshǒu, murderer) and 凶器 (xiōngqì, murder weapon). In everyday speech it also describes a person who looks or acts fierce. Example: 他对孩子太凶了。(Tā duì háizi tài xiōng le.) He is too harsh with the kids.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 凶 (xiōng) with 胸 (xiōng, chest), which sounds the same and contains 凶 on its right side. Also note the tone is first tone, not third like 兄 (xiōng) is first too but means older brother, so check meaning by context.
Common words with 凶
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 凶手 | xiōngshǒu | murderer; assassin | HSK 6 |
| 凶残 | xiōngcán | savage; cruel | HSK 7-9 |
| 凶猛 | xiōngměng | fierce; violent | HSK 7-9 |
| 凶恶 | xiōng'è | fierce; vicious | HSK 7-9 |
| 凶狠 | xiōnghěn | cruel; vicious | HSK 7-9 |
| 凶器 | xiōngqì | lethal weapon; murder weapon | |
| 凶杀案 | xiōngshā'àn | murder case | |
| 凶案 | xiōng'àn | murder case | |
| 凶杀 | xiōngshā | to murder; assassination | |
| 行凶 | xíngxiōng | violent crime; to commit a violent act (assault or murder) | |
| 真凶 | zhēnxiōng | culprit | |
| 帮凶 | bāngxiōng | accomplice; accessory | |
| 元凶 | yuánxiōng | chief offender; main culprit | |
| 凶险 | xiōngxiǎn | dangerous; ruthless |
凶 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 凶
Learning 凶 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 凶
How many strokes are in 凶?
凶 is written with 4 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 凶 mean?
凶 (xiōng) means vicious; fierce; ominous. A common word with it is 凶手 (xiōngshǒu), meaning "murderer; assassin".
How do you pronounce 凶?
凶 is pronounced xiōng, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 凶?
The radical of 凶 is 凵, which carries the idea of "container". Dictionaries list 凶 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 凶?
The traditional form of 凶 is 兇. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 凶 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 凶 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 凶 is part of the HSK 6 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
Can 凶 describe something besides people?
Yes. It can describe animals, as in 凶猛 (xiōngměng, fierce), and it can mean unlucky or inauspicious, as in 吉凶 (jíxiōng, good and bad fortune).
How do you say someone is fierce in casual speech?
You can say 他很凶 (tā hěn xiōng) or 好凶 (hǎo xiōng). It often means someone is strict, scary, or quick to scold, not necessarily violent.