Browse "Emotions" Characters

Every character has an origin. Discover the pictographs, myths, and history behind each Chinese character — with pinyin, stroke order, HSK level, and audio pronunciation.

摩擦

mócā

摩擦 literally means 'rubbing'—the character 摩 (

摘星

zhāi xīng

‘摘星’ literally means ‘to pluck stars’—a viv

摘帽子

zhāi mào zi

'Zhāi mào zi' literally means 'to take off a hat

摔话

shuāi huà

‘摔话’ is a vivid, colloquial verb meaning to bl

摔脸

shuāi liǎn

‘摔脸’ is a vivid, colloquial verb meaning to su

摔杯

shuāi bēi

‘Shuāi bēi’ literally means ‘to throw or smas

摔门

shuāi mén

‘摔门’ is a compound verb meaning 'to slam the d

动摇

dòng yáo

动摇 (dòng yáo) is a verb meaning 'to shake' or

摇摆

yáo bǎi

‘摇摆’ is a compound verb formed from two charac

摇头

yáo tóu

'Yáo tóu' literally means 'to shake the head' an

损人利己

sǔn rén lì jǐ

‘损人利己’ literally means ‘harm others and ben

握别

wò bié

‘握别’ literally means ‘to grasp (hand) and par

握拳

wò quán

'Wò quán' literally means 'to grip a fist' and f

不知所措

bù zhī suǒ cuò

‘不知所措’ literally means ‘does not know where

措手不及

cuò shǒu bù jí

‘措手不及’ literally means ‘no time to arrange

失控行为

shī kòng xíng wéi

'失控行为' literally means 'lost-control behavior'

神采

shén cǎi

神采 (shén cǎi) is a compound noun meaning 'vita

风采

fēng cǎi

风采 (fēng cǎi) literally combines 风 (fēng, 's

挣表现

zhèng biǎoxiàn

'Zhèng biǎoxiàn' literally combines 'zhèng' (t

挣扎

zhēngzhá

‘挣扎’ is a compound verb meaning 'to struggle'

掌掴

zhǎngguó

掌掴 is a verb meaning 'to slap (someone) forceful

捐躯

juān qū

‘捐躯’ literally means ‘to donate one’s body’

共振

gòng zhèn

Resonance in physics refers to the phenomenon wher

振臂一呼

zhèn bì yī hū

‘振臂一呼’ is a vivid four-character idiom that

振聋发聩

zhèn lóng fā kuì

‘振聋发聩’ literally means ‘to shake the deaf a

振作

zhèn zuò

振作 is a verb meaning 'to rally' or 'to pull ones

振奋

zhèn fèn

振奋 (zhèn fèn) is a verb meaning 'to inspire' o

拼搏

pīn bó

拼搏 is a compound verb meaning 'to strive hard' o

拆穿

chāi chuān

拆穿 literally means 'to tear open and pierce thro

拆台

chāi tái

拆台 literally means 'to dismantle a stage' — a v

抖腿

dǒu tuǐ

‘抖腿’ literally means ‘to shake the leg’ —

抖擞

dǒu sǒu

抖擞 is a reduplicative verb meaning 'to invigorat

发抖

fā dǒu

‘发抖’ is a compound verb meaning 'to shiver' or

承蒙

chéngméng

承蒙 (chéngméng) is a formal, humble expression

承诺

chéngnuò

承诺 (chéngnuò) means 'promise' or 'pledge' — a

承认

chéngrèn

承认 means 'to admit' or 'to acknowledge'—often s

托付

tuō fù

‘托付’ is a formal, emotionally weighty verb mea

扇耳光

shān ěr guāng

'扇耳光' is a verb meaning 'to slap (someone) acro

扇动

shān dòng

‘扇动’ is a compound verb formed from 扇 (shān)

煽动

shān dòng

煽动 (shān dòng) is a verb meaning 'to incite' o