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栴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
栴zhānsandalwoodzg, 10 strokes, radical 木
zhān(zhan1)zhan T1
  1. 1sandalwood
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March 24, 2026

栴zhān(zhan1)

The character 栴 (zhān) refers to sandalwood, a fragrant wood often used in incense and traditional medicine. In Chinese culture, sandalwood is valued for its aromatic properties and is commonly associated with spirituality and meditation. It is often found in religious contexts and is considered a symbol of purity.

Strokes10Radical木
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, sandalwood is often used in religious rituals and is thought to purify spaces. It is also a key ingredient in some traditional Chinese medicine formulas, highlighting its importance in both spiritual and health practices.

Memory tip

Imagine a serene temple surrounded by sandalwood trees, their trunks forming the character 栴. The '木' (wood) radical at the bottom represents trees, while the top part looks like a calm wave, reminding you of the soothing scent of sandalwood wafting through the air. Remember, 'zhān' sounds a bit like 'shawn', picturing a peaceful Shawn meditating under the trees.

Meanings of 栴

zhān(zhan1)
1sandalwood
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 栴

栴Simplified
10Strokes
木Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 栴

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AI study notes for 栴

Usage Notes

Sandalwood is often used in a variety of contexts, including traditional medicine and incense production. Learners should be cautious not to confuse 栴 with similar-sounding words, and it is generally used in more formal or literary contexts rather than casual conversation.

HSK Study Tips

While 栴 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enrich knowledge of herbal and aromatic contexts in Chinese. Students should focus on its usage in literature and traditional practices, connecting it to the HSK vocabulary related to nature and culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 栴 with other characters that sound similar, like 站 (zhàn, meaning 'to stand'). A common mistake is saying '我喜欢站香' (Wǒ xǐhuān zhàn xiāng) instead of '我喜欢栴香' (Wǒ xǐhuān zhān xiāng) when referring to the fragrance of sandalwood.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 栴

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Etymology of 栴

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

tree

Semantic (meaning)木
+
Phonetic (sound)丹
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

栴 = 木 + 丹. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 栴

IDS Structure⿰木⿱?丹
栴Full character
=
木Mu4
left
丹dan1
top
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 栴?

How to say sandalwood in Chinese

“sandalwood” in Chinese is栴zhān

The character 栴 (zhān) refers to sandalwood, a fragrant wood often used in incense and traditional medicine. In Chinese culture, sandalwood is valued for its aromatic properties and is commonly associated with spirituality and meditation. It is often found in religious contexts and is considered a symbol of purity.

When to use 栴

Sandalwood is often used in a variety of contexts, including traditional medicine and incense production. Learners should be cautious not to confuse 栴 with similar-sounding words, and it is generally used in more formal or literary contexts rather than casual conversation.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 栴 with other characters that sound similar, like 站 (zhàn, meaning 'to stand'). A common mistake is saying '我喜欢站香' (Wǒ xǐhuān zhàn xiāng) instead of '我喜欢栴香' (Wǒ xǐhuān zhān xiāng) when referring to the fragrance of sandalwood.

Write 栴

栴

Practice writing 栴 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 栴

Words containing this character1
栴zhānsandalwood

Frequently asked questions about 栴

Sandalwood is highly valued for its aroma and is used in incense, which plays an important role in spiritual practices and meditation.

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