How to Write 哼 (hēng) — Meaning “To hum / To groan / Humph!”

Imagine someone humming with their mouth (口) open while enjoying a 'hen' (sounds like 亨) — picture a hen humming a tune. The right side 亨 looks like a box with a dot on top and a line below, which you can remember as a music note floating above a singer.

Pay attention to the right component 亨: it has a dot on top (亠), then a square box (口), and a vertical line through it. A common mistake is forgetting the dot or making the box too wide. The entire character should be balanced, with the left 口 smaller and positioned slightly higher.

哼 represents a forceful snort, groan, or hum, and is often used to show dissatisfaction or humming a tune. 呢 is a modal particle used at the end of questions or for emphasis, while 呣 (m) is an interjection expressing thinking or hesitation. Visually, 哼 uses 亨 on the right, 呢 uses 尼, and 呣 uses 毋.

哼 is used to express a disdainful snort or grunt, like when you are annoyed and say 'Humph!' It can also mean to hum a song softly, as in 哼歌 (hēng gē). You might hear it as an informal sound of frustration or as a gentle hum while working.

Common words containing 哼 include: 哼歌 (hēng gē) — To hum a song.; 哼一声 (hēng yī shēng) — To snort / To groan; 哼唱 (hēng chàng) — To hum or chant softly..