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卄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
卄niàntwenty, twentiethx, 3 strokes, radical 十
niàn(nian4) T4
  1. 1twenty, twentieth
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

卄niàn(nian4)

The character 卄 (niàn) represents the number twenty and is used primarily in mathematical contexts or formal settings. It signifies the concept of 'twentieth' when used in enumerating or counting items in a list. This character is less commonly encountered in daily conversation compared to its more familiar counterparts.

Strokes3Radical十
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, numbers hold significant meanings, and the number twenty is often associated with completeness in certain contexts, such as age milestones. Understanding numeral systems is essential for grasping cultural references, like in traditional celebrations.

Memory Tip

Think of 卄 as two '十' (ten) characters stacked together, representing the number twenty. Visualize two stacks of ten coins, which makes it easier to remember both the shape and the meaning.

Meanings of 卄

niàn(nian4)
1twenty, twentieth
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 卄

卄Simplified
3Strokes
十Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 卄

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Podcast: 卄

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AI Study Notes for 卄

Usage Notes

It's important to note that 卄 is rarely used in everyday conversation and is more common in written forms, such as in legal documents or formal lists. Learners might confuse it with other numbers, so pay attention to the context in which it appears to avoid misinterpretation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 卄 is not included in the HSK levels, understanding it can be beneficial as it connects to the concept of numbers, which are essential for HSK vocabulary. Focus on how it relates to other Chinese numerals for a broader understanding of counting.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 卄 with other numbers or forget its correct pronunciation. For example, saying 'shì' (十) instead of 'niàn' (卄) when trying to refer to twenty is a common mistake.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 卄

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Etymology of 卄

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

Two tens 十 side by side

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 卄

  1. 1The giveawayTwo tens 十 side by side
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 卄? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 卄?

Decomposition of 卄

IDS Structure⿻十丨
卄Full Character
=
十shi2
outer
丨gun3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 卄?

How to say twenty, twentieth in Chinese

“twenty, twentieth” in Chinese is卄niàn

The character 卄 (niàn) represents the number twenty and is used primarily in mathematical contexts or formal settings. It signifies the concept of 'twentieth' when used in enumerating or counting items in a list. This character is less commonly encountered in daily conversation compared to its more familiar counterparts.

When to use 卄

It's important to note that 卄 is rarely used in everyday conversation and is more common in written forms, such as in legal documents or formal lists. Learners might confuse it with other numbers, so pay attention to the context in which it appears to avoid misinterpretation.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 卄 with other numbers or forget its correct pronunciation. For example, saying 'shì' (十) instead of 'niàn' (卄) when trying to refer to twenty is a common mistake.

Write 卄

卄

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 卄

Words Containing This Character1
卄niàntwenty, twentieth
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 卄 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 卄

No, 卄 is primarily found in formal or written contexts, not in everyday speech.

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