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椽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
椽chuánbeams, rafters, supportszg, 13 strokes, radical 木, rank #63780, Very Hard
椽chuánbeamunknown, 13 strokes, radical 木, rank #63780, Very Hard
chuán(chuan2)chuan T2
  1. 1beams, rafters, supports
  2. 2beam
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March 24, 2026

椽chuán(chuan2)

The character 椽 (chuán) refers to structural elements like beams or rafters that support a building. It is commonly used in architectural contexts or when discussing construction, emphasizing its role in providing stability and support in structures.

Strokes13Radical木Frequency#63780DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese architecture, the structure of a building heavily relies on wooden beams like 椽, which reflect the importance of wood craftsmanship in Chinese culture. These beams not only provide support but also contribute to the aesthetic of traditional structures.

Memory tip

Imagine a sturdy wooden beam (椽) supporting a roof. The character has a tree radical (木) on the left, symbolizing wood, while the right side hints at its function in construction. Picture a strong beam that 'carries' the weight, helping you remember 'chuán' sounds like 'chuan' in 'channel', which can also mean to support or carry something.

Meanings of 椽

chuán(chuan2)
1beams, rafters, supports
2beam
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 椽

椽Simplified
13Strokes
木Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 椽

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Podcast: 椽

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AI Study Notes for 椽

Usage Notes

Learners should be cautious about the context in which 椽 is used, as it is more specific than the general term for 'beam' (梁 liáng). It is typically more formal and used in construction-related discussions. Be aware of the tone, as mixing it up with similar-sounding words can lead to confusion.

HSK Study Tips

Although 椽 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it relates to other construction terms that may appear in higher-level studies. Focus on character recognition and pronunciation, as well as how it might appear in compound words related to architecture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 椽 with similar characters like 梁 (liáng), which also means beam but is more general. For example, saying '我需要椽来建房子' (I need 椽 to build a house) may sound odd; it would be more appropriate to use 梁 in this context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 椽

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Etymology of 椽

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

wood

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

Origin

椽 = 木 + 彖. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 椽

IDS Structure⿰木彖
椽Full character
=
木Mu4
left
彖tuan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 椽?

How to say beams, rafters, supports in Chinese

“beams, rafters, supports” in Chinese is椽chuán

The character 椽 (chuán) refers to structural elements like beams or rafters that support a building. It is commonly used in architectural contexts or when discussing construction, emphasizing its role in providing stability and support in structures.

When to use 椽

Learners should be cautious about the context in which 椽 is used, as it is more specific than the general term for 'beam' (梁 liáng). It is typically more formal and used in construction-related discussions. Be aware of the tone, as mixing it up with similar-sounding words can lead to confusion.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 椽 with similar characters like 梁 (liáng), which also means beam but is more general. For example, saying '我需要椽来建房子' (I need 椽 to build a house) may sound odd; it would be more appropriate to use 梁 in this context.

Write 椽

椽

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

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Grammar Patterns of 椽

椽 carries 2 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 3

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

请用手电筒照房____.

Shine the torch up into the rafters, please.

Example Sentences for 椽 (2)

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1
请用手电筒照房椽.

qǐng yòng shǒu diàn tǒng zhào fáng chuán.

Shine the torch up into the rafters, please.
2
茅草屋顶的椽子上挂着几串干洋葱和蒜。

máo cǎo wūdǐng de chuán zi shàng guà zhe jǐ chuàn gān yáng cōng hé suàn。

From the rafters of the thatched roofs hung strings of dried onions and garlic.
Exercise 1 of 1

Rebuild it

Rebuild it: “Shine the torch up into the rafters, please.”

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Word Family of 椽

Words containing this character2
椽chuánbeam
椽子beam
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 椽

What does 椽子 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 椽

The correct pronunciation is 'chuán' with a rising tone.

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