How to Write 恸 (tòng) — Meaning “Deep sorrow or grief.”

Picture a heart (忄) that is so overwhelmed by sadness it starts to "move" (动) uncontrollably, like a trembling chest during a cry. The image of a moving heart directly ties to the meaning of deep sorrow.

Write the left radical 忄 first: dot, dot, then a vertical line that is tall and straight. The right part 动 has six strokes; a common mistake is to curve the vertical hook too much or to confuse the inner part with 云 (cloud). Keep the overall shape balanced, with the left narrow and the right slightly wider.

恸 is a literary and formal character, rarely used in everyday conversation. It appears in emotional expressions like 恸哭 (to wail bitterly) or 哀恸 (mournful grief), often in news reports about tragedies, classical poetry, or serious literature. It carries a weight of profound, heart-wrenching sorrow.

Common words containing 恸 include: 恸哭 (tòng kū) — To wail or cry bitterly.; 哀恸 (āi tòng) — to wail with grief; 悲恸 (bēi tòng) — deeply grieved; mournful.