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毚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
毚chángreedy; cunningzg, 17 strokes, radical 比
毚chánartfulunknown, 17 strokes, radical 比
chán(chan2) T2
  1. 1greedy; cunning
  2. 2artful
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

毚chán(chan2)

The character 毚 (chán) refers to a person who is greedy or cunning, often used to describe someone who is artful in their deception or manipulation. It conveys a sense of cleverness that is not necessarily positive, implying slyness or craftiness in behavior. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in literary contexts or discussions about character traits.

Strokes17Radical比
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being cunning can be viewed as a double-edged sword; while cleverness is often admired, being overly deceitful can lead to social ostracism. This reflects the value placed on integrity in personal and business relationships.

Memory Tip

Imagine a cunning fox (the radical 毚 is visually reminiscent of a tail) sneaking around to gather shiny objects (representing greed). The 'chán' sounds like 'chan,' as in 'chan the crafty fox,' who is always plotting to outsmart others.

Meanings of 毚

chán(chan2)
1greedy; cunning
2artful
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 毚

毚Simplified
17Strokes
比Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 毚

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Podcast: 毚

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 毚

Usage Notes

It's important to use 毚 (chán) in contexts that emphasize cunning or deception since it has negative connotations. Avoid using it in formal settings or to describe someone positively. Common collocations include phrases that discuss cleverness in schemes or plots.

HSK Study Tips

Although 毚 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it connects to other HSK vocabulary related to personality traits, such as 聪明 (cōngming, smart) or 狡猾 (jiǎohuá, cunning). Focus on understanding its negative implications and the contexts in which it is appropriate to use.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 毚 (chán) with similar-sounding words that have positive meanings, such as 聪明 (cōngming, smart). Remember that 毚 has a distinctly negative connotation, so use it carefully in context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 毚

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Etymology of 毚

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Eating two whole rabbits 㲋 and 兔

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 毚

  1. 1The giveawayEating two whole rabbits 㲋 and 兔
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 毚? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 毚?

Decomposition of 毚

IDS Structure⿱㲋兔
毚Full Character
=
㲋chuo4
top
兔tu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 毚?

How to say greedy; cunning in Chinese

“greedy; cunning” in Chinese is毚chán

The character 毚 (chán) refers to a person who is greedy or cunning, often used to describe someone who is artful in their deception or manipulation. It conveys a sense of cleverness that is not necessarily positive, implying slyness or craftiness in behavior. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in literary contexts or discussions about character traits.

When to use 毚

It's important to use 毚 (chán) in contexts that emphasize cunning or deception since it has negative connotations. Avoid using it in formal settings or to describe someone positively. Common collocations include phrases that discuss cleverness in schemes or plots.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 毚 (chán) with similar-sounding words that have positive meanings, such as 聪明 (cōngming, smart). Remember that 毚 has a distinctly negative connotation, so use it carefully in context.

Write 毚

毚

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 毚

It primarily means greedy or cunning, often with a negative connotation.

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