哭泣

• Pinyin: kū qì
• Hanzi breakdown: 哭 = 口口 (mouths) + 犬 (dog); 泣 = 氵(water) + 立 (stand) — tears standing

Meaning

To weep; to cry; to sob. A more literary or formal way to express crying.

More refined than the common 哭 (cry). Often used in written language, news reports, or when describing emotional scenes. Implies sustained, emotional crying rather than a brief cry.

Examples

1. 她独自在角落里默默哭泣，不愿让别人看见。 She wept silently in the corner, not wanting others to see.
2. 葬礼上，亲属们忍不住失声哭泣。 At the funeral, the relatives couldn't help but burst into tears.
3. 孩子在母亲怀里哭泣，久久不能平静。 The child sobbed in the mother's arms, unable to calm down for a long time.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, news, emotional scenes

Tone: emotional

Do Say

• 她忍不住哭泣起来。(She couldn't help but start weeping.)
• 轻声哭泣的声音从房间里传出。(The sound of quiet sobbing came from the room.)

Don't Say

• 用哭泣描述婴儿的哭闹，如'婴儿在哭泣'。(For babies, use 哭 or 哭闹 — 哭泣 implies emotional depth inappropriate for infants)

Origin & History

Compound of 哭 (cry) + 泣 (weep silently). Together expressing the act of crying with tears.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal