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March 24, 2026
恩(㤙)ēn(en1)
The character 恩 (ēn) conveys the idea of kindness, mercy, or grace bestowed upon someone. It is often used in contexts related to benevolence and goodwill, particularly in relationships where one party has received a favor or assistance from another. This term can also be associated with gratitude for such kindness.
Strokes10Radical心Frequency#642DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 恩 is deeply tied to Confucian values, where showing kindness and gratitude is essential in maintaining harmonious relationships. The term often appears in discussions about familial duties and moral obligations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a warm embrace (恩) that wraps around you, symbolizing the kindness and mercy you receive from others. The character resembles a person showing affection, reminding you of the grace and goodwill shared in relationships.
Meanings of 恩
ēn(en1)
1kindness, mercy, charity
2grace
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 恩
恩Simplified
㤙Traditional
10Strokes
心Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#642Frequency Rank
Podcast: 恩
Podcast: 恩
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AI Study Notes for 恩
Quick Contrast
恩 (ēn) vs 惠 (huì) — use 恩 when emphasizing personal kindness or grace, while 惠 generally refers to benefits or favors that are more formal or institutional.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a warm embrace (恩) that wraps around you, symbolizing the kindness and mercy you receive from others. The character resembles a person showing affection, reminding you of the grace and goodwill shared in relationships.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 恩 with other characters conveying similar meanings, so it's crucial to understand its specific context of kindness. This term is generally used in both formal and informal settings, but is especially prevalent in literary and poetic expressions. Be cautious of tone; a mispronunciation may lead to confusion with unrelated words.
HSK Study Tips
Though 恩 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is relevant for learners at higher levels who encounter classical literature or philosophical texts. Focus on its usage in idiomatic expressions involving kindness and gratitude, as well as its connections to more common words like 感谢 (gǎnxiè, to thank).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 恩 is deeply tied to Confucian values, where showing kindness and gratitude is essential in maintaining harmonious relationships. The term often appears in discussions about familial duties and moral obligations.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 恩 with 恩情 (ēnqíng), which specifically refers to acts of kindness or favor. An incorrect usage might be saying '我有恩' (Wǒ yǒu ēn) when they mean to express gratitude; instead, they should say '我感激' (Wǒ gǎnjī).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 恩
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Grammar Patterns of 恩
恩 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 2 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
弗兰开始不由自主地唠叨起乔____是怎样无可避免地被扣留的。
Fran began her automatic patter about how Jon had been unavoidably detained.
Example Sentences for 恩 (10)
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1
弗兰开始不由自主地唠叨起乔恩是怎样无可避免地被扣留的。
fú lán kāi shǐ bù yóu zì zhǔ dì lào tāo qǐ qiáo ēn shì zěn yàng wú kě bì miǎn dì bèi kòu liú de。
Fran began her automatic patter about how Jon had been unavoidably detained.
2
过了一会儿，科恩接起电话。“喂？”
guò le yī huì ér， ， kē ēn jiē qǐ diàn。“ huà？”
A moment later, Cohen picked up the phone. "Hello?"
The Colonel bowed his head and whispered a prayer of thanksgiving.
4
这将是我们参加过的最盛大的感恩节晚餐。
zhè jiāng shì wǒ mén cān jiā guò de zuì shèng dà de gǎn ēn jié wǎn cān。
It's going to be the most magnificent Thanksgiving dinner we ever had.
5
他们还留下了一张名片，上面印着肖恩·林奇的名字。
tā mén huán liú xià le yī zhāng míng piàn， ， shàng miàn yìn zháo xiāo· ēn · lín qí de。
They also left a card, imprinted with the name Sean Lynch.
6
科恩抱怨克拉维斯非要在他的买卖中插上一脚。
kē ēn bào yuàn kè lā wéi sī fēi yào zài tā de mǎi mài zhōng chā shàng yī jiǎo。
Cohen complained that Kravis was muscling in on his deal.
7
伊莱恩转过身，懒懒地挥了一下手就走了。
yī lái ēn zhuǎn guò shēn， ， lǎn lǎn dì huī le yī xià shǒu jiù zǒu。
Elaine turned and waved her hand lazily and left.
8
我当时不知道罗恩有那么坚强的个性。
wǒ dāng shí bù zhī dào luó ēn yǒu nà mó jiān qiáng de gè xìng。
I didn't know Ron had that much strength of character.
9
影片讲述的巴恩斯·沃利斯的故事有多少真实的成分？
yǐng piàn jiǎng shù de bā ēn sī· · wò lì sī de gù shì yǒu duō shǎo zhēn shí de chéng？
How far did the film tell the truth about Barnes Wallis?
10
伟大如穆恩者，也有状态起伏的时候。
wěi dà rú mù ēn zhě， ， yě yǒu zhuàng tài qǐ fú de shí。
Moon, as great as he is, has had some inconsistent days.
Cultural Notes for 恩
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 恩 is deeply tied to Confucian values, where showing kindness and gratitude is essential in maintaining harmonious relationships. The term often appears in discussions about familial duties and moral obligations.
Word Family of 恩
Compounds4
嗯en1(a groaning sound)
摁en4to press with a finger
蒽en1anthracene
煾
Words Containing This Character19
恩ēnfavor
感恩gǎnēnto be grateful
感恩节Thanksgiving Day感恩節
周恩来Zhou Enlai (1898-1976), Chinese communist leader, prime minister 1949-1976周恩來
肖恩Sean, Shaun or Shawn (name)
恩怨ēnyuànresentment
布莱恩Brian (name)布萊恩
恩爱conjugal love恩愛
恩格斯Friedrich Engels (1820-1895), socialist philosopher and one of the founder of Marxism
恩师(greatly respected) teacher恩師
恩惠ēnhuìfavor
恩赐ēncìfavor恩賜
恩人ēnréna benefactor
白求恩Norman Bethune (1890-1939), Canadian doctor, worked for communists in Spanish civil war and for Mao in Yan'an, where he died of blood poisoning
斯特恩Stern (name)
恩情ēnqíngkindness
忘恩负义to kick a benefactor in the teeth忘恩負義
伯恩Bern or Berne, capital of Switzerland (Tw)
谢恩to thank sb for favor (esp. emperor or superior official)謝恩
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 嗯 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 恩
You can say, '我非常感激您的恩惠' (Wǒ fēicháng gǎnjī nín de ēnhuì), meaning 'I am very grateful for your kindness.'
恩 is more commonly found in written Chinese, especially in literature and formal speech, whereas in everyday conversation, simpler terms for kindness might be preferred.
Yes, expressions like '恩重如山' (ēn zhòng rú shān), meaning 'the grace is as heavy as a mountain,' illustrate the deep appreciation for someone's kindness.
