abbr. for Sichuan Province 四川[Sì chuān] in southwest China
j, 3 strokes, radical 川, rank #6000, Hard
川
Chuān
abbr. for Sichuan Province 四川[Si4 chuan1] in southwest China
unknown, 3 strokes, radical 川, rank #6000, Hard
Chuān(Chuan1) T1
1river
2creek
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
川Chuān(Chuan1)
The character 川 (chuān) primarily means 'river' or 'creek' and can also refer to plains or areas of level country. It is commonly used to denote waterways and is an abbreviation for Sichuan Province, known for its rich geography and culture centered around rivers.
Strokes3Radical川Frequency#6000DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, rivers are significant not only for their geographical importance but also for their symbolic meanings in poetry and art. Sichuan, associated with the character 川, is famous for its hotpot and rich culinary traditions, heavily influenced by its river systems.
Memory Tip
Imagine a flowing river (川) that carves through the land. Visualize the water moving smoothly, which helps you remember that 'chuān' means river. The character looks like three flowing streams converging, reinforcing its meaning.
Meanings of 川
Chuān(Chuan1)
1river
2creek
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 川
川Simplified
3Strokes
川Radical
简称abbreviation (abbr.)Part of Speech
#6000Frequency Rank
Podcast: 川
Podcast: 川
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AI Study Notes for 川
Quick Contrast
河 (hé) - use 河 when specifically referring to a river, while 川 can denote broader waterways or plains.
Usage Notes
川 is often used in geographical contexts, but it can also appear in idiomatic expressions related to water. Be cautious with its tone; it is pronounced with a first tone (high and level). Avoid confusing it with other characters like '山' (mountain) which has a different meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although 川 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with other words related to nature and geography at this level, such as '河' (he, river) and '湖' (hu, lake). Students should focus on pronunciation and context to differentiate these terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 川 with 河 (he), leading to incorrect phrases like '我住在川' (I live by the river) instead of '我住在河边' (I live by the riverbank). Ensure you use the correct character based on the size of the water body.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 川
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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 川? 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 川?
Decomposition of 川
IDS Structure⿲丿丨丨
川Full Character
=
丿pie3
left
丨gun3
middle
丨gun3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 川?
How to say river in Chinese
“river” in Chinese is川Chuān
The character 川 (chuān) primarily means 'river' or 'creek' and can also refer to plains or areas of level country. It is commonly used to denote waterways and is an abbreviation for Sichuan Province, known for its rich geography and culture centered around rivers.
When to use 川
川 is often used in geographical contexts, but it can also appear in idiomatic expressions related to water. Be cautious with its tone; it is pronounced with a first tone (high and level). Avoid confusing it with other characters like '山' (mountain) which has a different meaning.
川 or something close to it
河 (hé) - use 河 when specifically referring to a river, while 川 can denote broader waterways or plains.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 川 with 河 (he), leading to incorrect phrases like '我住在川' (I live by the river) instead of '我住在河边' (I live by the riverbank). Ensure you use the correct character based on the size of the water body.
Write 川
川
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Practice writing 川 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 川
川 carries 7 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
