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㬎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
xiǎnmotes in a sunbeam; illustrious, brightx, 14 strokes, radical 日, Very Hard
xiǎnold variant of 顯|显[xian3]unknown, 14 strokes, radical 日, Very Hard
xiǎnvisibleunknown, 14 strokes, radical 日, Very Hard
xiǎnapparentunknown, 14 strokes, radical 日, Very Hard
xiǎn(xian3) T3
  1. 1motes in a sunbeam; illustrious, bright
  2. 2old variant of 顯|显[xian3]
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March 24, 2026
xiǎn(xian3)

The character 㬎 (xiǎn) refers to small particles or motes that are visible in a beam of sunlight, emphasizing illumination and clarity. It can also denote something that is illustrious or apparent, often used in a literary or poetic context. This character is an older variant of the more commonly used 顯 (xiǎn), which shares similar meanings of visibility and prominence.

Strokes14RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese literature, light and visibility often symbolize knowledge and enlightenment. The imagery of motes in sunlight can represent clarity of thought or spiritual illumination, which is a recurring theme in poetic writings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bright beam of sunlight filtering through a dusty room, revealing tiny motes dancing in the air. The character 㬎, with its components, can be visualized as a sunbeam (the top part) shining down on the motes (the lower part), making them 'illustrious' and 'visible'. The pronunciation 'xiǎn' can be remembered by associating it with 'shine' as both concepts relate to brightness.

Meanings of 㬎

xiǎn(xian3)
1motes in a sunbeam; illustrious, bright
2visible
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 㬎

Simplified
14Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 㬎

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AI Study Notes for 㬎

Quick Contrast

显 (xiǎn) - use 㬎 (xiǎn) for a more literary or poetic nuance, while 显 (xiǎn) is more commonly used in everyday language.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a bright beam of sunlight filtering through a dusty room, revealing tiny motes dancing in the air. The character 㬎, with its components, can be visualized as a sunbeam (the top part) shining down on the motes (the lower part), making them 'illustrious' and 'visible'. The pronunciation 'xiǎn' can be remembered by associating it with 'shine' as both concepts relate to brightness.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 㬎 with its modern variant 顯, which is more widely used in everyday language. It is important to use 㬎 in more formal or literary contexts rather than casual conversation. Be cautious of the tone – 'xiǎn' is pronounced with a third tone, which can change the meaning if mispronounced.

HSK Study Tips

As this character is not included in the HSK level vocabulary, focus on understanding its connection to the more common 顯 (xiǎn). This will help you recognize the character in texts but prioritize learning usable vocabulary first. Consider practicing by reading literary texts where such characters might appear.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese literature, light and visibility often symbolize knowledge and enlightenment. The imagery of motes in sunlight can represent clarity of thought or spiritual illumination, which is a recurring theme in poetic writings.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 㬎 in casual conversations where 顯 should be used, leading to confusion. For instance, saying '我觉得这个事情很㬎' instead of '我觉得这个事情很显' would sound awkward.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 㬎

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Etymology of 㬎

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Tiny 幺 motes of dust 灬 in a sunbeam 日

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 㬎?

Decomposition of 㬎

IDS Structure⿳日⿰幺幺灬
Full Character
=
Ri4
top
Yao1
left
Yao1
right
huo3
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 㬎?

Write 㬎

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Cultural Notes for 㬎

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese literature, light and visibility often symbolize knowledge and enlightenment. The imagery of motes in sunlight can represent clarity of thought or spiritual illumination, which is a recurring theme in poetic writings.

Frequently Asked Questions about 㬎

㬎 is an older variant with similar meanings to 顯, but is less commonly used in modern language.