How to Write 愤 (fèn) — Meaning “Indignation; anger.”

Think of a heart (忄) that is so angry it "fumes" — the sound "fèn" is similar to "fume." The right side 贲 looks like a person with raised arms stomping in rage, adding a visual image of anger exploding.

Pay special attention to the right side 贲: its top part is a cross (十) followed by a horizontal line, not the other way around. Many learners mistakenly write the strokes of the top as a single box; the correct order is horizontal, vertical, horizontal, horizontal, then the rest of 贝 below.

Although all three share the heart radical 忄, 愤 means "indignation" or "anger," while 悃 (kǔn) means "sincere" or "earnest" and 悄 (qiǎo) means "quiet" or "gentle." Visually, their right sides are different: 愤 has 贲, 悃 has 困, and 悄 has 肖.

愤 is commonly used in formal writing, news, or serious contexts to express strong anger or moral indignation, such as in 愤怒 (fènnù, rage) or 气愤 (qìfèn, furious). Culturally, it often appears in idioms like 义愤填膺 (yìfèn tiányīng, righteous indignation fills the chest), showing a deep, principled anger rather than casual annoyance.

Common words containing 愤 include: 愤怒 (fèn nù) — Anger; rage; furious.; 气愤 (qì fèn) — Indignant / Furious; 愤慨 (fèn kǎi) — Indignant; resentment..