聵 (kuì) - Deaf & hard of hearing

聵Tone 4

kuì ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

聵 · kuì

Deaf;

hard of hearing;

unhearing;

uncomprehending;

obtuse.

Deafhard of hearingunhearing

Usage highlights

Deaf and blindSenile and obtuseTo enlighten the obtuseDeaf from birthDeaf and dimTo open the ears of the deaf

Synonyms

  • 聋— deaf
  • 昏— muddled, confused

Antonyms

  • 聪— sharp hearing, clever
  • 明— clear-sighted, understanding

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was born deaf (天生聩).
  • The loud noise made him temporarily deaf (震耳欲聩).
  • She was oblivious to the criticism (昏聩不明).

Collocations

  • Deaf and blind(聩盲)
  • Senile and obtuse(昏聩)
  • To enlighten the obtuse(启聩)
  • Deaf from birth(聩聩)
  • Deaf and dim-witted(聩钝)
  • To open the ears of the deaf(发聩)

Idioms

  • To shout loudly to wake up the deaf(振聋发聩)
  • Deaf and blind, unable to see or hear(聩聩盲盲)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used metaphorically to describe someone who is stubborn, unperceptive, or refuses to listen to reason.
  • Appears in classical Chinese texts describing physical disability or moral/mental obtuseness.
  • The character contains the ear radical (耳), directly relating to hearing.

FAQ