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March 24, 2026
崭(嶃)chán(chan2)
The character 崭 (chán) generally means 'new' or 'bold', often used to describe something that is fresh, steep, or high. It is commonly found in contexts highlighting innovation or elevation, both literally and metaphorically, such as 崭新 (chánxīn) meaning 'brand new'.
Strokes11Radical山Frequency#55558DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'newness' often carries significant weight, especially in business and technology, where innovation is highly valued. The freshness implied by 崭 can symbolize progress and modernity.
Memory Tip
Imagine a steep mountain (the radical 山, meaning 'mountain') that is so high and new that it catches your eye. The sound 'chán' can be remembered as you 'chan' (chant) about how impressive and fresh this mountain looks.
Meanings of 崭
chán(chan2)
primary
1precipitous
2high
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 崭
崭Simplified
嶃Traditional
11Strokes
山Radical
区别词distinguishing word (dist.)Part of Speech
#55558Frequency Rank
Podcast: 崭
Podcast: 崭
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AI Study Notes for 崭
Quick Contrast
崭 (chán) vs 新 (xīn): use 崭 when emphasizing boldness or steepness, while 新 focuses on the quality of being new without the additional connotations.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a steep mountain (the radical 山, meaning 'mountain') that is so high and new that it catches your eye. The sound 'chán' can be remembered as you 'chan' (chant) about how impressive and fresh this mountain looks.
Usage Notes
崭 is often used in more literary or formal contexts, so be mindful of the register. Common collocations include 崭新 (brand new) and 崭露头角 (to show one's talent). Learners should also note the potential confusion with the character 嶄, as they can sound similar but have different usages.
HSK Study Tips
Although 崭 is not in the official HSK vocabulary list, it is related to other words describing newness or steepness, which are useful for intermediate learners. Focus on the pronunciation and context to distinguish it from similar characters.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'newness' often carries significant weight, especially in business and technology, where innovation is highly valued. The freshness implied by 崭 can symbolize progress and modernity.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 崭 with 嶄, mistakenly using 嶄 when they mean to say 崭新. It's essential to remember that 崭 specifically conveys a sense of newness and boldness.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 崭
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Grammar Patterns of 崭
崭 carries 6 distinct meanings. 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 4
Complete the Sentence
他那条防水裤____新笔挺。
His waterproof trousers were brand new and stiff.
Example Sentences for 崭 (6)
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1
他那条防水裤崭新笔挺。
tā nà tiáo fáng shuǐ kù zhǎn xīn bǐ tǐng。
His waterproof trousers were brand new and stiff.
2
昨天他去给自己买了一辆崭新的小汽车。
zuó tiān tā qù gěi zì jǐ mǎi le yī liàng zhǎn xīn de xiǎo qì chē。
Yesterday he went off to buy himself a brand-new car.
3
原来的居民可能会认不出这个崭新的城镇了。
yuán lái de jū mín kě néng huì rèn bù chū zhè gè zhǎn xīn de chéng zhèn le。
The new town would have been unrecognisable to the original inhabitants.
Lewis emerges as a composer of distinction and sensitivity.
6
陈秋兰, 廖美玲 ( 1999 ) 崭新而实用的英语教学, 敦煌,台北.
chén qiū lán, , liào měi(1999) líng ( 1999 ) zhǎn xīn ér shí yòng de yīng yǔ, jiào xué, , dūn.
Halliwell, Susan ( 1992 ) Teaching English in the Primary Classroom, Longman.
Cultural Notes for 崭
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'newness' often carries significant weight, especially in business and technology, where innovation is highly valued. The freshness implied by 崭 can symbolize progress and modernity.
Word Family of 崭
Words Containing This Character5
崭新zhǎnxīnbrand new嶄新
崭露头角to reveal outstanding talent (idiom); to stand out as conspicuously brilliant嶄露頭角
崭chánhigh嶄
崭亮shining嶄亮
崭齐orderly嶄齊
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 崭新 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 崭
崭 is pronounced as 'chán', with a rising tone.
While they are variants, they are not always interchangeable; context matters.
Common phrases include 崭新 (brand new) and 崭露头角 (to show one's talent).