HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #10108, Hard
偿
cháng
to compensate for
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #10108, Hard
偿
cháng
to recompense
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #10108, Hard
偿
cháng
to fulfill (hopes etc)
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #10108, Hard
偿
cháng
to repay, to recompense; restitution
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #10108, Hard
cháng(chang2) T2
1to repay
2to compensate for
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March 24, 2026
偿(償)cháng(chang2)
The character 偿 (cháng) means to repay or compensate, often in the context of fulfilling obligations or restoring balance. It can refer to repaying debts or compensating for losses or unfulfilled hopes. The term conveys a sense of rectifying a situation or meeting expectations.
Strokes11Radical亻Frequency#10108DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of repaying debts or fulfilling promises is deeply rooted, often reflected in traditional values such as '信用' (xìnyòng, credit) and the importance of maintaining one's word.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person named Chang who always keeps his promises. When he borrows a book, he repays it by returning it in perfect condition. Think of the character 偿 as a 'promise keeper' with the radical 亻 (person) suggesting human actions related to repayment.
Meanings of 偿
cháng(chang2)
1to repay
2to compensate for
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 偿
偿Simplified
償Traditional
11Strokes
亻Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#10108Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 偿
Podcast: 偿
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AI Study Notes for 偿
Quick Contrast
偿 (cháng) vs 还 (huán) — use 偿 when emphasizing the act of compensating or repaying in a broader sense, while 还 focuses more on returning something to its original owner.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person named Chang who always keeps his promises. When he borrows a book, he repays it by returning it in perfect condition. Think of the character 偿 as a 'promise keeper' with the radical 亻 (person) suggesting human actions related to repayment.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 偿 with 偿 (also pronounced cháng) which has a similar meaning but is more commonly used in specific contexts. This word is neutral in register and can be used in both formal and informal situations. Be careful with pronunciation, as it can be easily mixed up with similar-sounding characters.
HSK Study Tips
Although 偿 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it connects to vocabulary related to finance and obligations that appear in HSK 4 and above. Students should focus on its usage in sentences about debts and compensations to enhance their understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of repaying debts or fulfilling promises is deeply rooted, often reflected in traditional values such as '信用' (xìnyòng, credit) and the importance of maintaining one's word.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 偿 with similar characters like 赔 (péi, to compensate) or 还 (huán, to return), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我会赔你的钱' instead of '我会偿还你的钱' can change the meaning significantly.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 偿
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Grammar Patterns of 偿
偿 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
该公司不得不为裁员支付4.72亿英镑的补____款。
The company has had to make redundancy payments of £472 million.
Common Confusions with 偿
偿vs常
cháng
Same pronunciation; different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to repay"?
or
Example Sentences for 偿 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
该公司不得不为裁员支付4.72亿英镑的补偿款。
gāi gōng sī bù dé bù wéi cái yuán zhī fù4.72 4.72 yì yīng bàng de bǔ cháng。
The company has had to make redundancy payments of £472 million.
They intend to claim for damages against the three doctors.
5
他导致了他们的婚姻破裂，因此想作出补偿。
tā dǎo zhì le tā mén de hūn yīn pò liè， ， yīn cǐ xiǎng zuò chū bǔ。
He wanted to make amends for causing their marriage to fail.
6
查看一下你的保险单，看其是否对搬运过程中的破损和毁坏赔偿。
chá kàn yī xià nǐ de bǎo xiǎn dān， ， kàn qí shì fǒu duì bān yùn guò chéng zhōng de pò sǔn hé huǐ huài péi。
Check that your insurance policy covers breakages and damage during removals.
7
达德利先生已承诺将任何所获的损害赔偿额都捐给慈善机构。
dá dé lì xiān shēng yǐ chéng nuò jiāng rèn hé suǒ huò de sǔn hài péi cháng é dū juān gěi cí shàn jī gòu。
Mr Dudley has pledged to give any award to charity.
8
我为你所做的一切都是免费的，无偿的，你明白吗？
wǒ wéi nǐ suǒ zuò de yī qiē dū shì miǎn fèi de， ， wú cháng， de ， nǐ míng？
What I did for you was free, gratis, you understand?
9
那笔钱甚至都不够赔偿破损费。
nà bǐ qián shèn zhì dū bù gòu péi cháng pò sǔn fèi。
Those figures might not even cover the cost of breakages.
10
这家报纸正和提起损害赔偿诉讼的女演员对簿公堂。
zhè jiā bào zhǐ zhèng hé tí qǐ sǔn hài péi cháng sù sòng de nǚ yǎn yuán duì bù gōng táng。
The newspaper is fighting a damages action brought by the actress.
Cultural Notes for 偿
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of repaying debts or fulfilling promises is deeply rooted, often reflected in traditional values such as '信用' (xìnyòng, credit) and the importance of maintaining one's word.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, repaying debts is also important, but the nuances of personal honor and familial obligations may vary significantly compared to Chinese traditions.
Word Family of 偿
Words Containing This Character17
补偿bǔchángto compensate補償
赔偿péichángto compensate賠償
偿还chánghuánto repay償還
偿chángto repay償
无偿wúchángfree無償
赔偿金compensation賠償金
如愿以偿rúyuànyǐchángto have one's wish fulfilled如願以償
有偿paying有償
清偿to redeem清償
偿命to pay with one's life償命
得不偿失débùchángshīthe gains do not make up for the losses (idiom)得不償失
偿付to pay back償付
补偿费compensation補償費
抵偿to compensate抵償
报偿repay報償
偿债to repay a debt償債
偿清to repay償清
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 补偿 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 偿
You can use it like this: '我会偿还你的钱' (I will repay your money).
No, it can also refer to fulfilling promises or hopes, not just monetary debts.
Some synonyms include 还 (huán, to return) and 补偿 (bǔcháng, to compensate).
