中毒

zhòngdú

verb HSK 5 #5,215

Meanings

1 to be poisoned
2 poisoning

Characters

to hit; to be struck by

Here 中 is pronounced zhòng (4th tone), meaning 'to be struck by' — not zhōng (1st tone, middle)

Examples

他吃了不干净的东西中毒了。

Tā chī le bù gānjìng de dōngxi zhòng dú le.

He got food poisoning from eating something unclean.

这种蘑菇会让人中毒。

Zhè zhǒng mógū huì ràng rén zhòng dú.

This type of mushroom can poison people.

食物中毒要赶紧去医院。

Shíwù zhòng dú yào gǎnjǐn qù yīyuàn.

In case of food poisoning, go to the hospital right away.

Tips

mistakes

The 中 in 中毒 is pronounced zhòng (4th tone), not zhōng (1st tone). When 中 means 'to be hit/struck by something,' it uses the 4th tone: 中毒, 中奖 (win a prize), 中招 (fall for a trick).

usage

食物中毒 (food poisoning) is the most common compound. In modern slang, 中毒 can also mean 'addicted' — 我中毒了 (I'm hooked/addicted).

Stroke Order

中 zhōng

毒 dú