哭泣
kū qì · HSK 7
to weep
💧 哭 = two 口 mouths wailing over a dog 犬; 泣 = water 氵 + stand 立 = tears
Both characters mean cry. 哭 stacks two open mouths 口口 howling; 泣 pairs the water radical 氵 with 立 (stand), so it reads as water shed while standing — sobbing tears.
哭 — two mouths 吅 + dog 犬
哭 is an associative compound. The two 口 (mouths) on top suggest crying out or wailing, while 犬 (dog) below evokes a howling animal. Together the image is of loud, mournful crying — the character has meant 'to weep' since ancient times.