How to Write 怦 (pēng) — Meaning “thumping (heartbeat)”

Imagine a heart (忄) that is so excited it goes "pēng pēng" like a drum, and write the right side like a flat drum surface (平). The two dots in 忄 are like two heartbeats, and the vertical line is the beat itself.

Write the left radical 忄 first: dot, dot, vertical line. Then the right side 平: horizontal line, dot in the middle, horizontal line, vertical stroke through the middle. A common mistake is making the two dots in 忄 too far apart or touching the vertical line incorrectly.

怦 (pēng) means a thumping heartbeat sound, while 忏 (chàn) means to repent or confess, and 忕 (shì) means a habit or addiction. Visually, 怦's right side is 平 (flat), 忏's right side is 千 (thousand), and 忕's right side is 大 (big). So they look different and have completely different meanings.

You will often see 怦 in the phrase 怦怦跳 (pēng pēng tiào) to describe a heart pounding from fear or excitement, and 怦然心动 (pēng rán xīn dòng) to express being suddenly smitten or falling in love. This character is very common in romantic or emotional contexts, especially in literature and songs.

Common words containing 怦 include: 怦怦 (pēng pēng) — pounding; pit-a-pat; 怦然心动 (pēng rán xīn dòng) — one's heart thumps with excitement; to be smitten; 怦的一声 (pēng de yī shēng) — with a bang; with a thump.