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歛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
歛hānto fold back, to draw back; to collectx, 17 strokes, radical 欠
歛hānto desireunknown, 17 strokes, radical 欠
歛hānto giveunknown, 17 strokes, radical 欠
歛liǎnto fold back, to draw back; to collectx, 17 strokes, radical 欠
歛liǎnto desireunknown, 17 strokes, radical 欠
歛liǎnto giveunknown, 17 strokes, radical 欠
hān(han1)han
primary
T1
  1. 1to fold back, to draw back; to collect
  2. 2to desire
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March 24, 2026

歛hān(han1)

The character 歛 (hān) primarily means to fold back or draw back, often used in contexts relating to collecting or gathering. It can also imply desire or intent to give, encompassing both physical and abstract nuances in its usage.

Strokes17Radical欠
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 'drawing back' can relate to humility and restraint, often reflected in Confucian values of moderation and self-control.

Memory tip

Imagine a folding fan that you draw back when it's not in use. The character's top part resembles a hand reaching out (the 'hand' radical), suggesting the action of gathering or collecting, while the bottom part hints at the motion of folding back.

Meanings of 歛

hān(han1)
primary
1to fold back, to draw back; to collect
2to desire
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 歛

歛Simplified
17Strokes
欠Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 歛

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Podcast: 歛

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AI study notes for 歛

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 歛 with its variant forms, such as 斂 (liǎn), so it's essential to remember its unique pronunciation and meaning. It's generally used in more formal contexts, especially in literary texts, and should be avoided in casual conversation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 歛 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding its components and similar characters can aid in mastering related terms at your level. Focus on the phonetic similarities with 斂 and practice differentiating their meanings in context.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 歛 in place of 斂 due to their similar meanings; for example, saying '我想要把钱歛起来' (I want to collect money) instead of '我想要把钱斂起来.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 歛

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Etymology of 歛

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

lack

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

Origin

歛 = 欠 + 僉. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 歛

IDS Structure⿰僉欠
歛Full character
=
僉qian1
left
欠qian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 歛?

How to say to fold back, to draw back; to collect in Chinese

“to fold back, to draw back; to collect” in Chinese is歛hān

The character 歛 (hān) primarily means to fold back or draw back, often used in contexts relating to collecting or gathering. It can also imply desire or intent to give, encompassing both physical and abstract nuances in its usage.

When to use 歛

Learners often confuse 歛 with its variant forms, such as 斂 (liǎn), so it's essential to remember its unique pronunciation and meaning. It's generally used in more formal contexts, especially in literary texts, and should be avoided in casual conversation.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is using 歛 in place of 斂 due to their similar meanings; for example, saying '我想要把钱歛起来' (I want to collect money) instead of '我想要把钱斂起来.'

Write 歛

歛

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

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Word Family of 歛

Words containing this character1
歛hānto desire

Frequently asked questions about 歛

It is pronounced as hān, with a flat tone.

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