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March 24, 2026
忝tiǎn(tian3)
The character 忝 (tiǎn) conveys a sense of shame or disgrace, often reflecting self-deprecation or feelings of inadequacy. It is commonly used in contexts where someone feels unworthy or embarrassed, particularly in formal or literary expressions.
Strokes8Radical⺗Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, self-deprecation can be a virtue, as it reflects humility and respect for others. The use of 忝 in language can signify a person's understanding of their place in social hierarchies, often appearing in formal contexts like poetry or speeches.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person feeling shame (忝) while standing under a big tree (木), representing their heavy burden of disgrace. The character combines the heart radical (忄) indicating emotions, with the tree (木), suggesting the weight of their feelings is as heavy as a tree.
Meanings of 忝
tiǎn(tian3)
1shame, disgrace; self-depreciation
2to shame
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 忝
忝Simplified
8Strokes
⺗Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 忝
Podcast: 忝
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AI Study Notes for 忝
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person feeling shame (忝) while standing under a big tree (木), representing their heavy burden of disgrace. The character combines the heart radical (忄) indicating emotions, with the tree (木), suggesting the weight of their feelings is as heavy as a tree.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with tone; 忝 is pronounced with a third tone (tiǎn), which can be mispronounced as a second tone. This term is more likely to be used in formal writing or speeches rather than in everyday conversation. Common collocations include phrases expressing feelings of shame or unworthiness.
HSK Study Tips
Though 忝 is not included in the HSK levels, it relates to emotional vocabulary often encountered in higher-level texts. Students should focus on understanding its nuance in expressing humility or shame, and how it can contrast with more positive attributes in advanced dialogues.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, self-deprecation can be a virtue, as it reflects humility and respect for others. The use of 忝 in language can signify a person's understanding of their place in social hierarchies, often appearing in formal contexts like poetry or speeches.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 忝 with similar-sounding characters, leading to misinterpretations. For example, using 忝 (shame) when intending to say 'pride' with a character like 荣 (róng) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 忝
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Cultural Notes for 忝
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, self-deprecation can be a virtue, as it reflects humility and respect for others. The use of 忝 in language can signify a person's understanding of their place in social hierarchies, often appearing in formal contexts like poetry or speeches.
Word Family of 忝
Words Containing This Character1
忝tiǎnto shame
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 忝 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 忝
The correct pronunciation is with a third tone: tiǎn.
忝 is mostly used in formal or literary contexts, often expressing shame or self-deprecation.
It's less common in everyday speech but can appear in discussions about personal feelings or formal situations.
