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璨 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
càngem; the luster of a gemg, 17 strokes, radical 王, rank #95423, Very Hard
cànluster of gemunknown, 17 strokes, radical 王, rank #95423, Very Hard
càn(can4) T4
  1. 1gem; the luster of a gem
  2. 2luster of gem
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March 24, 2026

càn(can4)

The character 璨 (càn) refers to a gem or precious stone, emphasizing the luster and brilliance that such stones possess. It is often used in contexts discussing jewelry, beauty, and value, particularly in literary or poetic descriptions of gemstones.

Strokes17RadicalFrequency#95423DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, gemstones are often associated with wealth and status, and they can carry auspicious meanings. The character 璨 may appear in traditional poetry or literature that extols the beauty and value of nature's treasures.

Memory Tip

Think of 璨 as a shining gem. The radical '王' (wáng) suggests something precious, while the left side '火' (huǒ) can remind you of the sparkling light that gems emit when they catch the light, making them appear dazzling.

Meanings of 璨

càn(can4)
1gem; the luster of a gem
2luster of gem
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 璨

Simplified
17Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 璨

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AI Study Notes for 璨

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 璨 as a shining gem. The radical '王' (wáng) suggests something precious, while the left side '火' (huǒ) can remind you of the sparkling light that gems emit when they catch the light, making them appear dazzling.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 璨 with similar characters like 珠 (zhū), which means pearl. 璨 is more formal and often used in literary contexts, while 珠 can be used in everyday speech. Common collocations include 璨石 (càn shí - gem stone) and 璨光 (càn guāng - luster of a gem).

HSK Study Tips

Although 璨 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be useful for learners at the advanced level (HSK 5 and above) as it enriches their vocabulary related to precious materials. Students should focus on recognizing the character in written texts and understanding its poetic usage.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, gemstones are often associated with wealth and status, and they can carry auspicious meanings. The character 璨 may appear in traditional poetry or literature that extols the beauty and value of nature's treasures.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 璨 with other gem-related characters like 珠 (zhū) or 宝 (bǎo). For example, saying '我喜欢璨' (I like càn) is incorrect; it should be '我喜欢宝石' (I like gemstones) when referring to gems in general.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 璨

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Etymology of 璨

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

The luster 粲 of a gem 王; 粲 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 璨?

Decomposition of 璨

IDS Structure⿰王粲
Full Character
=
Wang2
left
can4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 璨?

Write 璨

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

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Grammar Patterns of 璨

璨 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

金 、 银和珐琅装饰品都制造得空前地璀____夺目.

Gold, silver, and enamelled work were done with an unprecedented brilliance.

Example Sentences for 璨 (1)

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1
金 、 银和珐琅装饰品都制造得空前地璀璨夺目.

jīn、 、 yín hé fà láng zhuāng shì pǐn dū zhì zào dé kōng qián dì cuǐ càn duó.

Gold, silver, and enamelled work were done with an unprecedented brilliance.

Cultural Notes for 璨

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, gemstones are often associated with wealth and status, and they can carry auspicious meanings. The character 璨 may appear in traditional poetry or literature that extols the beauty and value of nature's treasures.

Word Family of 璨

Words Containing This Character3
璀璨bright
璀璨夺目dazzling (idiom)璀璨奪目
càngem
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 璀璨 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 璨

You might encounter phrases like 璨石 (gem stone) and 璨光 (the luster of a gem) in literature.