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妍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
妍yánbeautiful, handsome; seductivezg, 7 strokes, radical 女, rank #14802, Very Hard
yán(yan2) T2
  1. 1beautiful, handsome; seductive
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

妍yán(yan2)

The character 妍 (yán) means beautiful or handsome, often used to describe someone's physical appearance or charm. It carries a connotation of attractiveness that can be both aesthetic and alluring, making it suitable in contexts discussing beauty in art, nature, or individuals.

Strokes7Radical女Frequency#14802DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, beauty is often celebrated in poetry and art, and 妍 reflects this appreciation of aesthetic qualities. It can also be found in names or phrases that signify charm and attractiveness.

Memory Tip

Imagine a graceful woman (the radical 女 for 'female') standing in a beautiful garden. The character 妍 combines this female representation with a sense of elegance, evoking the beauty of a blooming flower. Remember 'yán' sounds like 'yen,' which you might associate with something valuable like beauty.

Meanings of 妍

yán(yan2)
1beautiful, handsome; seductive
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 妍

妍Simplified
7Strokes
女Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 妍

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Podcast: 妍

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 妍

Quick Contrast

妍 (yán) vs 美 (měi) — use 妍 when emphasizing charm or allure, while 美 focuses more on general beauty.

Usage Notes

妍 is more commonly used in literary contexts or formal speech. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words that denote beauty but may carry different nuances, so pay attention to the context in which it is used. It's often paired with other words related to beauty, such as 美 (měi).

HSK Study Tips

Although 妍 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, its meaning ties closely with other HSK words that describe beauty, such as 美 (měi). Focusing on how 妍 relates to these words can deepen your understanding of beauty-related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 妍 with 美 (měi), leading to sentences like '她很美' (She is very beautiful), which is correct, but they might overlook that 妍 adds a nuance of charm. Ensure to use 妍 in contexts that require a deeper, more alluring description.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 妍

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Etymology of 妍

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

A woman 女 who appears forward or open 开

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 妍

  1. 1The giveawayA woman 女 who appears forward or open 开
  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 妍? 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 妍?

Decomposition of 妍

IDS Structure⿰女开
妍Full Character
=
女nü3
left
开kai1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 妍?

How to say beautiful, handsome; seductive in Chinese

“beautiful, handsome; seductive” in Chinese is妍yán

The character 妍 (yán) means beautiful or handsome, often used to describe someone's physical appearance or charm. It carries a connotation of attractiveness that can be both aesthetic and alluring, making it suitable in contexts discussing beauty in art, nature, or individuals.

When to use 妍

妍 is more commonly used in literary contexts or formal speech. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words that denote beauty but may carry different nuances, so pay attention to the context in which it is used. It's often paired with other words related to beauty, such as 美 (měi).

妍 or something close to it

妍 (yán) vs 美 (měi) — use 妍 when emphasizing charm or allure, while 美 focuses more on general beauty.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 妍 with 美 (měi), leading to sentences like '她很美' (She is very beautiful), which is correct, but they might overlook that 妍 adds a nuance of charm. Ensure to use 妍 in contexts that require a deeper, more alluring description.

Write 妍

妍

Practice writing 妍 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 妍

Words Containing This Character3
妍yánbeautiful
妍丽beautiful妍麗
争妍斗艳vying in beauty and glamor爭妍鬥艷
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 妍 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 妍

While both mean beautiful, 妍 tends to emphasize charm and allure, whereas 美 is a more general term for beauty.

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