cuī HSK 5

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

妈妈催我快点起床。
Māma cuī wǒ kuài diǎn qǐchuáng.
Mom urged me to get up quickly.
老师催我们交作业。
Lǎoshī cuī wǒmen jiāo zuòyè.
The teacher urged us to hand in our homework.
他催朋友快点来。
Tā cuī péngyǒu kuài diǎn lái.
He urged his friend to come quickly.
妈妈催我起床。
Māma cuī wǒ qǐchuáng.
Mom urges me to get up.
他催我快点。
Tā cuī wǒ kuài diǎn.
He hurries me to be quick.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 催 as 'urge' with a sense of 'hurry'—imagine someone saying 'C'mon!' (sounds like 'cuī') to push you along. The character includes 崔 (cuī, a surname), which can remind you of a strict person催促 you.

📝 Usage Notes

催 is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, in formal and informal contexts. It often appears in situations involving deadlines, payments, tasks, or催促他人行动, such as in work, finance, or daily催促. For example,催促还款 (urge repayment) or 催作业 (press for homework).

📖 Grammar Points

催 is often used in the structure: Subject + 催 + Object + Verb Phrase (e.g., 妈妈催我睡觉 - Mom urges me to sleep). It can also be used with 着 for continuous aspect (e.g., 他催着我交报告 - He is pressing me to submit the report).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 催 is frequently associated with social pressures, such as 催婚 (urging someone to marry) or 催生 (urging to have children), reflecting family expectations. It can carry a nuanced sense of nagging or anxiety in interpersonal relationships.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar words include 催促 (cuīcù, more formal and emphasizes repeated urging) and 敦促 (dūncù, formal, often used in diplomatic or official contexts). 催 is more general and everyday, while 催促 can imply a stronger, more persistent pressure.

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