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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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 崭 means.
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.
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.
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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How Well Do You Know 崭?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 崭 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
崭 = 山 + 斩. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 崭
IDS Structure⿱山斩
崭Full Character
=
山Shan1
top
斩zhan3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 崭?
How to say precipitous in Chinese
“precipitous” in Chinese is崭chán
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'.
When to use 崭
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.
崭 or something close to it
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.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 崭
崭
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Practice writing 崭 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 崭
崭 carries 4 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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.
