Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
滇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
滇diānYunnan provincej, 13 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
滇diānabbr. for Yunnan Province 雲南|云南[Yun2 nan2] in southwest Chinaunknown, 13 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
diān(Dian1) T1
  1. 1Yunnan province
  2. 2abbr. for Yunnan Province 雲南|云南[Yun2 nan2] in southwest China
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

滇diān(Dian1)

滇 (diān) refers specifically to Yunnan Province, located in the southwestern part of China. It is often used as an abbreviation in various contexts when discussing geography, culture, or cuisine related to Yunnan. This character carries a regional significance and is commonly seen in place names and cultural references.

Strokes13Radical氵Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Yunnan is known for its ethnic diversity and unique landscapes, including the famous Stone Forest and the picturesque Lijiang Old Town. The character 滇 encapsulates a rich regional identity that highlights the cultural heritage of the various ethnic groups in the province.

Memory Tip

Imagine a river (the radical 'water' 氵) flowing through the lush landscapes of Yunnan, with the sound 'diān' resembling the gentle flow of water. Visualize the serene scenery and the vibrant culture of Yunnan, making it easy to remember that 滇 represents this beautiful province.

Meanings of 滇

diān(Dian1)
1Yunnan province
2abbr. for Yunnan Province 雲南|云南[Yun2 nan2] in southwest China
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 滇

滇Simplified
13Strokes
氵Radical
简称abbreviation (abbr.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 滇

JasonAmy

Podcast: 滇

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 滇

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a river (the radical 'water' 氵) flowing through the lush landscapes of Yunnan, with the sound 'diān' resembling the gentle flow of water. Visualize the serene scenery and the vibrant culture of Yunnan, making it easy to remember that 滇 represents this beautiful province.

Usage Notes

滇 is typically used in a geographical context, so it is important to pair it with related terms like 滇池 (Dianchi Lake) or 滇菜 (Yunnan cuisine). Learners should be aware that it is more formal and may not be used in casual conversation. Avoid using 滇 in contexts unrelated to Yunnan to prevent confusion.

HSK Study Tips

While 滇 is not part of the HSK curriculum, students should focus on its geographical and cultural significance, as it connects with other words and concepts related to Yunnan. Understanding 滇 can help learners appreciate the diversity of Chinese geography and regional cultures.

Cultural Note

Yunnan is known for its ethnic diversity and unique landscapes, including the famous Stone Forest and the picturesque Lijiang Old Town. The character 滇 encapsulates a rich regional identity that highlights the cultural heritage of the various ethnic groups in the province.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 滇 to refer to other provinces or areas, which is incorrect. For example, saying '我来自滇' (I come from Diān) without clarifying that it specifically means Yunnan may confuse listeners. Always clarify that 滇 refers to Yunnan Province.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 滇

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 滇 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 滇

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

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 真 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

water

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 滇?

Decomposition of 滇

IDS Structure⿰氵真
滇Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
真zhen1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 滇?

Write 滇

滇

Practice writing 滇 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 滇

滇 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 1

Complete the Sentence

分三大方言: 湘西 、 黔东和川黔____.

Three major dialects: western Hunan , eastern Guizhou , and Sichuan , Guizhou and Yunnan.

Example Sentences for 滇 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
分三大方言: 湘西 、 黔东和川黔滇.

fēn sān dà fāng yán: : xiāng、 xī 、 qián dōng hé chuān.

Three major dialects: western Hunan , eastern Guizhou , and Sichuan , Guizhou and Yunnan.

Cultural Notes for 滇

🏮Cultural insight

Yunnan is known for its ethnic diversity and unique landscapes, including the famous Stone Forest and the picturesque Lijiang Old Town. The character 滇 encapsulates a rich regional identity that highlights the cultural heritage of the various ethnic groups in the province.

Word Family of 滇

Words Containing This Character4
滇diānabbr. for Yunnan Province 雲南|云南[Yún​nán] in southwest China
滇池lake Dianchi in Yunnan
滇东east Yunnan滇東
滇红Dian Hong tea滇紅
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 滇 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 滇

滇 means Yunnan Province, often used in discussions about geography and culture related to this area.