恐 kǒng — fear; dread · English

恐

kǒng

fear; dread

At a glance · 恐

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

小篆从心，巩声，本义为畏惧、担心。形声清晰。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

本义为害怕、担忧。

Structure

形声字，从心（意符），巩（gǒng）为声符。

At a glance

Pinyinkǒng

Radical心

Strokes10

UnicodeU+6050

Character type形声

Theme德行

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English fear; dread To fear or be afraid.

Français craindre; effrayer Craindre ou effrayer.

Español temer; asustar Temer o asustar.

العربية يخشى؛ يُرعِب يخشى أو يُرعِب.

Русский бояться; пугать Бояться или пугать.

Common words

恐怕kǒng pàafraid
恐慌kǒng huāngpanic

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