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玷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
玷diàncharacter flaw; a flaw in a gemzg, 9 strokes, radical 王, rank #91470, Very Hard
玷diànblemishunknown, 9 strokes, radical 王, rank #91470, Very Hard
玷diàndisgraceunknown, 9 strokes, radical 王, rank #91470, Very Hard
玷diànflaw in jadeunknown, 9 strokes, radical 王, rank #91470, Very Hard
diàn(dian4)dian T4
  1. 1character flaw; a flaw in a gem
  2. 2blemish
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

玷diàn(dian4)

The character 玷 (diàn) refers to a flaw or blemish, particularly in precious stones like jade or gems. It can also denote a character flaw or disgrace associated with a person. This word is often used in contexts discussing imperfections or moral shortcomings.

Strokes9Radical王Frequency#91470DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, jade is highly valued not only for its beauty but also for its symbolic meanings of purity and virtue. Thus, the concept of 玷 emphasizes the significance of flaws in both physical objects and human character in traditional Chinese values.

Memory Tip

Imagine a beautiful jade ornament that has a small black spot on it, representing the character 玷. The dot (瑕) symbolizes a 'blemish' that tarnishes its beauty, helping you remember that 玷 relates to flaws in gems and character.

Meanings of 玷

diàn(dian4)
1character flaw; a flaw in a gem
2blemish
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 玷 means.

About 玷

玷Simplified
9Strokes
王Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 玷

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Podcast: 玷

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AI Study Notes for 玷

Quick Contrast

瑕 (xiá) — use 玷 (diàn) when emphasizing a blemish or disgrace, while 瑕 (xiá) focuses more on a flaw without moral implications.

Usage Notes

While 玷 is used in both formal and informal contexts, it is particularly prevalent in literary or artistic discussions about beauty and flaws. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters, especially in tone, as it carries a negative connotation.

HSK Study Tips

Though 玷 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, it relates to other HSK words discussing beauty (美) and flaws (缺点). Students should focus on understanding its usage in describing imperfections to enhance their vocabulary related to aesthetics and moral discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 玷 when they mean to say 'flawless' or apply it in inappropriate contexts. For example, saying '这件衣服是玷' (This piece of clothing is a flaw) should be corrected to '这件衣服没有缺点' (This piece of clothing has no flaws).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 玷

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Etymology of 玷

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

Phonosemantic compound. 王 represents the meaning and 占 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

jade

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

Origin

玷 = 王 + 占. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 玷

IDS Structure⿰王占
玷Full Character
=
王Wang2
left
占zhan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 玷?

How to say character flaw; a flaw in a gem in Chinese

“character flaw; a flaw in a gem” in Chinese is玷diàn

The character 玷 (diàn) refers to a flaw or blemish, particularly in precious stones like jade or gems. It can also denote a character flaw or disgrace associated with a person. This word is often used in contexts discussing imperfections or moral shortcomings.

When to use 玷

While 玷 is used in both formal and informal contexts, it is particularly prevalent in literary or artistic discussions about beauty and flaws. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters, especially in tone, as it carries a negative connotation.

玷 or something close to it

瑕 (xiá) — use 玷 (diàn) when emphasizing a blemish or disgrace, while 瑕 (xiá) focuses more on a flaw without moral implications.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 玷 when they mean to say 'flawless' or apply it in inappropriate contexts. For example, saying '这件衣服是玷' (This piece of clothing is a flaw) should be corrected to '这件衣服没有缺点' (This piece of clothing has no flaws).

Write 玷

玷

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

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Grammar Patterns of 玷

玷 carries 4 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

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他略略地抬了抬眼皮,仿佛她的话会不小心____污了他。

He raised his eyes slightly as though her words might somehow soil him.

Example Sentences for 玷 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他略略地抬了抬眼皮,仿佛她的话会不小心玷污了他。

tā lüè lüè dì tái le tái yǎn pí, , fǎng fó tā de huà huì bù xiǎo xīn diàn wū le。

He raised his eyes slightly as though her words might somehow soil him.

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Word Family of 玷

Words Containing This Character4
玷污to stain
玷diànblemish
玷辱to dishonor
瑕玷blemish
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 玷

What does 玷污 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 玷

While not commonly used in daily chat, it may appear in literary contexts or discussions about art and morality.

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