How to Write 怵 (chù) — Meaning “to fear; to be afraid”

Imagine the right side 术 looks like a person with arms raised in panic, and the left heart radical 忄 shows this fear comes from the heart. So 怵 is like a person whose heart jumps up in terror.

Write the left radical 忄 first: a straight vertical line, then a left dot, then a right dot. For the right side 术, remember the dot at the bottom center — do not leave it out, or it becomes 木. Keep the left side narrow and the right side balanced.

怵 (chù) means fear, 忏 (chàn) means to repent, and 忕 (shì) means to be accustomed. Visually, the right parts differ: 怵 uses 术, 忏 uses 千, and 忕 uses 大. Always check the right component to tell them apart.

怵 appears in words like 发怵 (to feel nervous) and 怵头 (to dread). It is more literary than common spoken Chinese, often describing a hesitant fear when facing a difficult task. You might see it in written stories or formal descriptions of anxiety.

Common words containing 怵 include: 发怵 (fā chù) — To feel nervous; to be scared; 怵头 (chù tóu) — to feel apprehensive; to dread; 惊怵 (jīng chù) — Frightened.