哭 (kū) - To cry & to weep

哭Tone 1

kū ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical: 口

俊梁

哭 · kū

To cry;

to weep;

to sob;

to express grief or pain through tears.

To cryto weepto sob

Usage highlights

Cry loudlyCry bitterlyCry and laughCry for helpCry one's eyes outCry without tears

Synonyms

  • 泣— To weep silently; to sob
  • 啼— To cry; to wail (often used for animals or children)
  • 嚎— To howl; to wail loudly

Antonyms

  • 笑— To laugh; to smile
  • 乐— To be happy; to enjoy

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The baby is crying loudly (婴儿在哭).
  • She cried when she heard the sad news (她听到悲伤消息时哭了).
  • Don't cry over spilt milk (不要为打翻的牛奶哭泣).
  • He cried tears of joy (他流下了喜悦的泪水).

Collocations

  • Cry loudly(大哭)
  • Cry bitterly(痛哭)
  • Cry and laugh(哭笑不得)
  • Cry for help(哭喊求救)
  • Cry one's eyes out(哭得眼睛都肿了)
  • Cry without tears(干哭)

Idioms

  • Cry to heaven and knock one's head on the ground(哭天抢地)
  • Cry until one's eyes are swollen(哭肿眼睛)
  • Crying at a funeral — professional mourner(哭丧)
  • Cry until tears run dry(哭干眼泪)
  • Crying and sobbing(哭哭啼啼)
  • Cry to express grievances(哭诉)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese culture, crying is seen as a natural expression of grief, but excessive public crying may be viewed as lacking emotional restraint.
  • The character structure shows two mouths (口) above a dog (犬), suggesting the sound of wailing or howling.
  • In traditional opera and theater, stylized crying movements are part of performance conventions.
  • Professional mourners (哭丧者) were sometimes hired at funerals in ancient China to express grief ritually.

FAQ