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March 24, 2026
涎(㳄)xián(xian2)
The character 涎 (xián) refers to saliva, which is the watery fluid produced in the mouths of humans and animals. It is often used in informal contexts, particularly when discussing bodily functions or in idiomatic expressions referring to excessive drooling or slobbering.
Strokes9Radical氵Frequency#38246DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
Saliva and its discussion can be found in traditional Chinese medicine, where bodily fluids are often linked to health and wellness. Understanding how saliva is viewed in different contexts can provide insight into health practices in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a scene where a dog drools (saliva) while waiting for food, and visualize the character 涎 as the dog's drool pooling on the ground. The '氵' radical suggests water, connecting it to the watery nature of saliva, while '先' hints at the idea of being ahead (in eagerness), as the dog eagerly awaits its meal.
Meanings of 涎
xián(xian2)
1saliva
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 涎
涎Simplified
㳄Traditional
9Strokes
氵Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 涎
Podcast: 涎
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AI Study Notes for 涎
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the pronunciation of 涎, as it contains the second tone, which can be easily confused with the first tone. This character is primarily used in informal settings, so avoid using it in formal writing. Common collocations include phrases like ‘流涎’ (liúxián) meaning 'to drool'.
HSK Study Tips
While 涎 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to other HSK characters related to body functions and fluids, like 水 (water) and 口 (mouth). Students should focus on recognizing the radicals to better understand related words.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 涎 with similar-sounding words like 先 (xiān), which means 'first'. A common mistake is saying 'xiān' when referring to saliva; the correct pronunciation is 'xián'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 涎
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Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 延 represents the sound. Simplified form of 㳄.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half延 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 涎? 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 涎?
Decomposition of 涎
IDS Structure⿰氵延
涎Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
延Yan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 涎?
How to say saliva in Chinese
“saliva” in Chinese is涎xián
The character 涎 (xián) refers to saliva, which is the watery fluid produced in the mouths of humans and animals. It is often used in informal contexts, particularly when discussing bodily functions or in idiomatic expressions referring to excessive drooling or slobbering.
When to use 涎
Be cautious with the pronunciation of 涎, as it contains the second tone, which can be easily confused with the first tone. This character is primarily used in informal settings, so avoid using it in formal writing. Common collocations include phrases like ‘流涎’ (liúxián) meaning 'to drool'.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 涎 with similar-sounding words like 先 (xiān), which means 'first'. A common mistake is saying 'xiān' when referring to saliva; the correct pronunciation is 'xián'.
Write 涎
涎
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Practice writing 涎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 涎
涎 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). 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
即便在这儿，兰博基尼的红色迪亚博罗跑车也会招来垂____的目光。
Even here a red Lamborghini Diablo sports car attracts covetous stares.
Example Sentences for 涎 (8)
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1
即便在这儿，兰博基尼的红色迪亚博罗跑车也会招来垂涎的目光。
jí biàn zài zhè ér， ， lán bó jī ní de hóng sè dí yà bó luó pǎo chē yě huì zhāo lái chuí xián de mù。
Even here a red Lamborghini Diablo sports car attracts covetous stares.
