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凵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
凵kǎncontainer; receptaclezg, 2 strokes, radical 凵
凵qiǎncontainer; receptaclezg, 2 strokes, radical 凵
qiǎn(qian3)qian
primary
T3
  1. 1container; receptacle
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March 24, 2026

凵qiǎn(qian3)

The character 凵 (qiǎn) represents a container or receptacle, often implying a hollow or open space. It can be used in various contexts, including describing physical objects that hold something or metaphorically referring to concepts that contain ideas or emotions.

Strokes2Radical凵
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, containers have significant meanings, often associated with abundance and hospitality, such as in the use of bowls during family gatherings or festivals.

Memory tip

Imagine a large open box (the shape of 凵) that can hold many items. The box is 'queuing up' to be filled, reminding you of the pronunciation 'qiǎn' and its meaning as a receptacle.

Meanings of 凵

qiǎn(qian3)
primary
1container; receptacle
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 凵

凵Simplified
2Strokes
凵Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 凵

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Podcast: 凵

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AI Study Notes for 凵

Usage Notes

While 凵 is not commonly used on its own in modern Mandarin, it appears in some compound words. Be careful not to confuse it with similar characters that have different meanings or pronunciations, and remember that it is more often used in written or formal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Although 凵 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, its shape appears in many characters at various levels. Students should focus on recognizing it as a radical in compound characters and understanding its role in indicating receptacles, enhancing their reading comprehension skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 凵 with similar-looking characters like 口 (kǒu), which means mouth or opening. It's important to remember that 凵 refers specifically to a type of container, while 口 has a different meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 凵

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Etymology of 凵

Formation typePictographic 象形
六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Memory hint

A tray

Learn more about Pictograph (象形字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 凵?

How to say container; receptacle in Chinese

“container; receptacle” in Chinese is凵kǎn

The character 凵 (qiǎn) represents a container or receptacle, often implying a hollow or open space. It can be used in various contexts, including describing physical objects that hold something or metaphorically referring to concepts that contain ideas or emotions.

When to use 凵

While 凵 is not commonly used on its own in modern Mandarin, it appears in some compound words. Be careful not to confuse it with similar characters that have different meanings or pronunciations, and remember that it is more often used in written or formal contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 凵 with similar-looking characters like 口 (kǒu), which means mouth or opening. It's important to remember that 凵 refers specifically to a type of container, while 口 has a different meaning.

Write 凵

凵

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

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Word Family of 凵

Words containing this character1
凵qiǎnreceptacle

Frequently Asked Questions about 凵

It means a container or receptacle.

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