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涓 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
涓juānbrook, stream; pure; to selectz, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #93121, Very Hard
涓juānsurname Juanunknown, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #93121, Very Hard
juān(Juan1) T1
  1. 1brook, stream; pure; to select
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
涓juān(Juan1)

涓 (juān) refers primarily to a small stream or brook, symbolizing a gentle flow of water. It can also imply purity and selection, often used in contexts related to choosing or picking something carefully. This character can evoke imagery of a clear, flowing stream that is both serene and essential.

Strokes10Radical氵Frequency#93121DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese poetry and literature, streams and brooks often symbolize tranquility and purity, reflecting the beauty of nature and philosophical ideas about life. The character '涓' can be found in many classical texts describing landscapes and the essence of life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny brook (涓) flowing gently down a hill. Picture the water sparkling in the sun, representing purity. To remember the sound 'juān', think of 'ju' as a joyful jump into the stream and 'ān' as the calm surrounding it.

Meanings of 涓

juān(Juan1)
1brook, stream; pure; to select
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 涓

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

Podcast: 涓

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Podcast: 涓

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 涓

Quick Contrast

涓 (juān) vs 溪 (xī) — use 涓 for a gentle, small stream, while 溪 refers to a larger creek or stream.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a tiny brook (涓) flowing gently down a hill. Picture the water sparkling in the sun, representing purity. To remember the sound 'juān', think of 'ju' as a joyful jump into the stream and 'ān' as the calm surrounding it.

Usage Notes

While '涓' is more commonly seen in written Chinese, it may not be used frequently in daily conversation. Learners should be cautious to not confuse it with similar-sounding characters like '捐 (juān)', which means to donate. It is also important to use the correct tone, as mispronunciation can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although '涓' is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of water-related terms often encountered in HSK materials. Focus on recognizing the character's components and how it can be used in phrases related to nature or purity.

Cultural Note

In Chinese poetry and literature, streams and brooks often symbolize tranquility and purity, reflecting the beauty of nature and philosophical ideas about life. The character '涓' can be found in many classical texts describing landscapes and the essence of life.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '涓' with '涓涓 (juān juān)', which means 'the sound of flowing water'. They may also mistakenly use it in informal settings where a more common term would be appropriate. For example, saying '我喜欢涓' instead of '我喜欢小溪 (xiǎo xī)', meaning 'I like the brook'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 涓

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Etymology of 涓

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

water

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 涓?

Decomposition of 涓

IDS Structure⿰氵肙
涓Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
肙yuan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 涓?

Write 涓

涓

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 涓

涓 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 2

Complete the Sentence

阴愁的天空, 下着____涓细雨, 柔和而多情.

Worry about the sky overcast, the trickling of rain, soft and sentimental.

Example Sentences for 涓 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
阴愁的天空, 下着涓涓细雨, 柔和而多情.

yīn chóu de tiān kōng, , xià zháo juān juān xì, yǔ , róu hé ér.

Worry about the sky overcast, the trickling of rain, soft and sentimental.
2
小河越来越窄,最后变成了涓涓细流.

xiǎo hé yuè lái yuè zhǎi, , zuì hòu biàn chéng le juān juān xì.

The stream had thinned down to a mere trickle.

Cultural Notes for 涓

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese poetry and literature, streams and brooks often symbolize tranquility and purity, reflecting the beauty of nature and philosophical ideas about life. The character '涓' can be found in many classical texts describing landscapes and the essence of life.

Word Family of 涓

Words Containing This Character6
涓涓a trickle
涓juānbrook
庞涓Pang Juan (-342 BC), military leader and political strategist of the School of Diplomacy 縱橫家|纵横家[Zòng​héng​jiā] during the Warring States Period (425-221 BC)龐涓
涓滴tiny stream
刘涓子Liu Juanzi, legendary alchemist and creator of magic potions劉涓子
涓滴归公every drop returns to the public good (idiom); not one penny is misused涓滴歸公
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 涓涓 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 涓

'涓' is often used in literary contexts to describe nature, especially in poetry. It can also appear in names or phrases that imply purity and careful selection.