恸 (tòng) - deep sorrow, grief, lamentation & to mourn deeply, to wail

恸Tone 4

tòng ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

婷婉

恸 · tòng

deep sorrow, grief, lamentation;

to mourn deeply, to wail

deep sorrow, grief, lamentationto mourn deeply, to wail

Usage highlights

deep sorrowto wail mournfullygriefto mourn deeplyheartfelt griefloud lamentation

Synonyms

  • 悲— sorrow, sadness
  • 哀— mourning, grief
  • 痛— pain, anguish

Antonyms

  • 喜— joy, happiness
  • 乐— pleasure, delight

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was deeply grieved by the news (他为此消息而悲恸).
  • The whole nation mourned the loss (举国哀恸).
  • She cried bitterly at the funeral (她在葬礼上恸哭).

Collocations

  • deep sorrow(悲恸)
  • to wail mournfully(恸哭)
  • grief-stricken(哀恸)
  • to mourn deeply(恸悼)
  • heartfelt grief(恸切)
  • loud lamentation(号恸)

Idioms

  • To cry one's heart out(恸哭流涕)
  • Overwhelmed with grief(悲恸欲绝)
  • Deep sorrow that moves heaven and earth(感天动地之恸)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used in classical Chinese literature to describe profound, often ritualized expressions of grief.
  • Appears in formal contexts like elegies, obituaries, and historical accounts of mourning.
  • Carries connotations of deep, sincere emotional pain rather than casual sadness.

FAQ