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嫣 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
yāncaptivating, charming, fascinatingb, 14 strokes, radical 女, Very Hard
yān(yan1) T1
  1. 1captivating, charming, fascinating
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
yān(yan1)

The character 嫣 (yān) conveys a sense of captivating beauty or charm, often used in literary contexts to describe someone or something that is enchanting. It implies an allure that captivates the observer's attention and affection. You'll frequently encounter this term in poetry or romantic literature, where aesthetics play a significant role.

Strokes14RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese literature, beauty and charm are often idealized, and 嫣 is used to evoke classical notions of feminine allure, which can be traced back to historical poetry and art. This character reflects traditional values surrounding beauty and its significance in society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a beautiful lady (representing charm) standing beneath a tree (木, which is a component of 嫣) while the sun sets in enchanting hues. The lady's captivating presence makes the entire scene 'yān' (yawn) as you can't help but stare in awe.

Meanings of 嫣

yān(yan1)
1captivating, charming, fascinating
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 嫣

Simplified
14Strokes
Radical
区别词distinguishing word (dist.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 嫣

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 嫣

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a beautiful lady (representing charm) standing beneath a tree (木, which is a component of 嫣) while the sun sets in enchanting hues. The lady's captivating presence makes the entire scene 'yān' (yawn) as you can't help but stare in awe.

Usage Notes

When using 嫣, it is important to note that it is often used in a poetic or formal context, making it less common in everyday conversation. Avoid confusing it with similar sounding words that may carry different meanings. Common collocations include 嫣然一笑, which means 'a captivating smile.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 嫣 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to other beauty-related words like 美 (měi, beautiful) and 妩媚 (wǔmèi, charming). Focus on understanding its usage in literary texts to enhance your comprehension of descriptive language in Mandarin.

Cultural Note

In Chinese literature, beauty and charm are often idealized, and 嫣 is used to evoke classical notions of feminine allure, which can be traced back to historical poetry and art. This character reflects traditional values surrounding beauty and its significance in society.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 嫣 with similar characters like 妍 (yán), which also relates to beauty but carries a different nuance. Ensure to use 嫣 specifically to denote captivating charm, not just general beauty.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 嫣

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Etymology of 嫣

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

woman

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 嫣?

Decomposition of 嫣

IDS Structure⿰女焉
Full Character
=
nü3
left
yan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 嫣?

Write 嫣

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 嫣

嫣 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

你的花园将绿草成茵,姹紫____红.

Your garden will be full of green grass and gay flowers.

Example Sentences for 嫣 (2)

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1
你的花园将绿草成茵,姹紫嫣红.

nǐ de huā yuán jiāng lǜ cǎo chéng yīn, , chà zǐ yān.

Your garden will be full of green grass and gay flowers.
2
她的两颊上飞染了嫣红,眼睛是水汪汪地, 却带着几分倦态.

tā de liǎng jiá shàng fēi rǎn le yān hóng, , yǎn jīng shì shuǐ wāng wāng, dì , què dài zháo jī fēn.

Her cheeks were delicately flushed and her eyes clear and sparkling , though slightly tired.

Cultural Notes for 嫣

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese literature, beauty and charm are often idealized, and 嫣 is used to evoke classical notions of feminine allure, which can be traced back to historical poetry and art. This character reflects traditional values surrounding beauty and its significance in society.

Word Family of 嫣

Words Containing This Character5
yānlovely
嫣然beautiful
嫣然一笑to smile sweetly
嫣红bright red嫣紅
姹紫嫣红fig. beautiful purples and brilliant reds (idiom); lit. beautiful flowers奼紫嫣紅
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 嫣 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 嫣

No, 嫣 is more commonly found in poetry or literary contexts rather than in daily conversation.