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March 24, 2026
寒hán(han2)
The character 寒 (hán) primarily means 'cold' and is often used to describe low temperatures or a chilly atmosphere. It can also refer to feelings of poverty or hardship, conveying a sense of emotional coldness or discomfort. In certain contexts, it implies shivering or trembling due to coldness.
Strokes12Radical宀Frequency#14959DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, winter is often associated with hardships and the need for warmth, both physically and emotionally. The term 寒 can evoke the imagery of winter festivals where warmth and togetherness are celebrated despite the cold weather.
Memory Tip
Think of 寒 as a house (家) with a cold wind (寒) blowing through it, making everyone inside shiver. The character combines the 'roof' radical (宀) which indicates a home, and the 'cold' radical (寒), reminding you that the chill affects your comfort inside the house. Imagine someone huddled inside, trembling from the cold.
Meanings of 寒
hán(han2)
1cold
2poor
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About 寒
寒Simplified
12Strokes
宀Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#14959Frequency Rank
Podcast: 寒
Podcast: 寒
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AI Study Notes for 寒
Quick Contrast
冷 (lěng) refers specifically to 'cold' in terms of temperature, while 寒 (hán) can also convey emotional coldness or hardship.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 寒 as a house (家) with a cold wind (寒) blowing through it, making everyone inside shiver. The character combines the 'roof' radical (宀) which indicates a home, and the 'cold' radical (寒), reminding you that the chill affects your comfort inside the house. Imagine someone huddled inside, trembling from the cold.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 寒 with 冷 (lěng), as both mean 'cold' but differ in usage; 寒 is often more descriptive of the feeling or emotional state. It is more formal and can be found in literary contexts, while 冷 is more casual. Be cautious of the tone; the third tone (hán) can be mispronounced as a second tone.
HSK Study Tips
Although 寒 is not listed in the HSK levels, it is useful to connect it with other weather-related words like 热 (rè, hot) or 冷 (lěng, cold). Students should focus on recognizing it in texts and practice using it in sentences about weather and feelings, as this will enhance their vocabulary related to temperature.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, winter is often associated with hardships and the need for warmth, both physically and emotionally. The term 寒 can evoke the imagery of winter festivals where warmth and togetherness are celebrated despite the cold weather.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 寒 with 冷, using them interchangeably; for example, saying '我觉得很冷' (Wǒ juédé hěn lěng) when they actually mean 'I feel very cold' in a more emotional sense, which should use 寒. The correct phrasing would be '我觉得很寒'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 寒
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Grammar Patterns of 寒
寒 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 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.
The air was thin and crisp, filled with hazy sunshine and frost.
Cultural Notes for 寒
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, the concept of cold (寒) is often associated with the winter season and traditional celebrations like the Spring Festival, where families gather to enjoy warm meals together, contrasting the cold outside.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, winter is often associated with hardships and the need for warmth, both physically and emotionally. The term 寒 can evoke the imagery of winter festivals where warmth and togetherness are celebrated despite the cold weather.
📜Proverb
There is a Chinese saying, '寒从脚起', meaning 'cold starts from your feet'. It emphasizes the importance of keeping warm, especially during winter.
Word Family of 寒
Words Containing This Character20
寒冷hánlěngfrigid
寒háncold
寒假hánjiàwinter vacation
韩寒Han Han (1982-), PRC blogger, singer and professional rally driver韓寒
In Chinese, 寒 can express emotional states such as feeling 'cold' or 'distant' from someone, indicating a lack of warmth or connection. It may also be used metaphorically to describe feelings of isolation or poverty.
Some synonyms for 寒 include 冷 (lěng), which also means 'cold,' and 凉 (liáng), which can mean 'cool' or 'chilly.' These words can often be used interchangeably depending on the context.
To use 寒 in a sentence, you can say '今天天气很寒' (jīntiān tiānqì hěn hán), which means 'Today the weather is very cold.' It can also be used in phrases like '寒冷的冬天' (hánlěng de dōngtiān), meaning 'cold winter.'
寒 (hán) means 'cold' in Chinese and can also refer to being 'poor' or the act of 'trembling.' It is often used in the context of weather or temperature, but can also describe a state of feeling cold emotionally or financially.
You can say, '今天天气很寒' (Jīntiān tiānqì hěn hán), which means 'The weather today is very cold.'
寒 typically conveys a more emotional or severe sense of coldness, while 冷 is a more general term for cold.
Yes, it can describe emotional states, such as feeling 'cold' or 'distant' in a relationship.
