How to Write 吓 (xià)
Detailed Mastery Guide for 吓
The character 吓 (Traditional: 吓) is a fundamental part of the Chinese language, representing "Scare / Frighten". In our Level 2 curriculum, we focus on the 6-step stroke sequence to ensure your handwriting is both fast and accurate.
Writing & Recognition
Proper stroke order is essential for character recognition and legibility. By following the animation above, you can see how the character is built from top to bottom and left to right. This character is often categorized under Furniture & Emotions, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.
Key Vocabulary
Radical Breakdown
Breaking it down: The character 吓 is built on the radical 口 (Mouth, 30). Understanding radicals like this is a proven technique for accelerating vocabulary acquisition.
Etymology & Origins
Phono-semantic compound: 口 (mouth) indicates sound or speaking, and 下 (down) provides the phonetic component. It originally denoted a sharp sound or exclamation.
Example Sentence
Simplified: 他突然大叫，吓了我一跳。
Tā tūrán dàjiào, xiàle wǒ yītiào.
Traditional: 他突然大叫，嚇了我一跳。
Taa1 dat6 jin4 daai6 giu3, haaa3 liu5 ngo5 jat1 tiu3.
"He suddenly shouted, which gave me a fright."
Dialect Pronunciation
In Mandarin, this character is pronounced as xià. If you are learning Cantonese, the pronunciation is haak3. Use the audio buttons to hear the subtle tonal differences between the two major Chinese dialects.
Practice & Retention
To move this character from short-term to long-term memory, we recommend using our free practice sheet generator. Writing the character 10-15 times while following the correct sequence is a proven method for mastery.
Quick Self-Check
What is the meaning of '吓'?
Other Characters in Level 2 Unit 8
Hope this tool helps your Chinese learning journey!
We built this site to ensure everyone has access to free stroke order visualizers without annoying paywalls or trial limits. If you find it helpful, supporting us on Ko-fi helps keep the site running!
☕ Support Us on Ko-fi