variant of 胸

JLPT N3 10 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character "" primarily refers to the chest or breast area of the body. It is commonly used in both medical and everyday contexts to describe physical sensations or actions involving the chest.

Common Collocations

  • (xiōngkǒu): chest area, often used when describing pain or feelings.
  • (xiōngqián): in front of the chest, used to describe position.
  • (xiōng yǒu chéng zhú): an idiom meaning to have a well-thought-out plan or confidence before taking action.

Usage Notes

When used literally, "" refers to the physical chest. It can describe pain, emotions felt in the chest, or actions like holding something close to the chest. The idiomatic use "" is common in spoken and written Chinese to express confidence and preparedness.

Avoid confusing "" with similar body parts like "" (heart) or "" (abdomen). "" specifically refers to the upper torso area.

Register and Tone

"" is neutral in tone and appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. It appears frequently in medical, literary, and everyday language.

Example Sentences

He feels a lot of pain in his chest; it might be a heart problem.

She held the book against her chest with both hands, looking very serious.

He is confident and well-prepared when facing challenges.