泣 (qì) - to weep & to sob

泣Tone 4

qì ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 氵

七器

泣 · qì

to weep;

to sob;

tears;

crying silently.

to weepto sobtears

Usage highlights

to weeptearssobbingcryingweeping bitterlyto weep blood

Synonyms

  • 哭— to cry, weep (generally louder)
  • 泪— tears
  • 涕— tears, nasal mucus

Antonyms

  • 笑— to laugh, smile
  • 喜— joy, happiness
  • 欢— delight, joy

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She wept silently in the corner (哭泣).
  • Tears of joy (喜极而泣).
  • He sobbed over the loss (为失去而哭泣).
  • The mourners wept at the funeral (送葬者哭泣).

Collocations

  • to weep(哭泣)
  • tears(泪水)
  • sobbing(抽泣)
  • crying(哭泣)
  • weeping bitterly(悲泣)
  • to weep blood(泣血)

Idioms

  • Like a ghost weeping and a wolf howling(鬼泣狼嚎)
  • To weep blood and complain to heaven(泣血诉天)
  • Tears like rain(泣如雨下)
  • Weeping over the loss of one's country(泣国)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In classical Chinese poetry, '泣' often conveys deep, silent sorrow, contrasting with louder expressions of grief.
  • The character appears in historical texts describing mourning rituals and emotional outpourings.
  • In naming contexts, it's rarely used due to its sorrowful connotations, but may appear in literary or artistic names.

FAQ