哭kū

哭

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Simplified · Today

简体

Simplified Chinese

Simplified form (簡體). 哭 (kū, "cry, weep") remains unchanged from traditional — two open mouths wailing in grief, a pictograph so visceral that three thousand years found nothing to add. It appears as a component in 骂 (scold), 器 (utensil, vessel) and other characters where the idea of vocal expression takes shape.

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Shuowen

The character 哭 (kū, to cry/weep) is composed of two mouths (口口) above a large person (大), together depicting two people crying out loudly. The original meaning captures the act of wailing or sobbing, with the two open mouths emphasizing the sound and emotion of weeping. This clever ideographic construction effectively conveys the image of mourners crying aloud.

Pinyin

kū· HSK 1

哭kū

Character evolution

Shuowen

Pinyin