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皴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
cūnchapped, crackedn, 12 strokes, radical 皮, rank #76114, Very Hard
cūn(cun1) T1
  1. 1chapped, cracked
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
cūn(cun1)

The character 皴 (cūn) refers to the condition of being chapped or cracked, often used to describe skin or surfaces that show signs of dryness and fissures. It can be used in both literal contexts, such as describing cracked lips in winter, and in artistic contexts, like the texture of brushstrokes in traditional Chinese painting.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#76114DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese painting, the technique of depicting texture, including 皴, is vital for representing natural elements like rocks and trees, reflecting the importance of nature in Chinese art and philosophy.

Memory Tip

Imagine a dry, cracked desert floor that looks like it has 'cūn' (皴) marks all over it. The radical 皿 (plate) at the bottom suggests something flat and cracked, while the top part can remind you of the sun drying out the earth.

Meanings of 皴

cūn(cun1)
1chapped, cracked
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 皴

Simplified
12Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 皴

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 皴

Quick Contrast

皲 (jūn) refers specifically to chapped skin, particularly due to cold or dryness, while 皴 (cūn) can describe both skin and surface textures in a broader sense.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a dry, cracked desert floor that looks like it has 'cūn' (皴) marks all over it. The radical 皿 (plate) at the bottom suggests something flat and cracked, while the top part can remind you of the sun drying out the earth.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context when using 皴; it is typically used in more formal or literary situations rather than in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 皴裂 (cūn liè), meaning 'to crack' or 'to split'. Watch out for pronunciation errors, especially with the tone.

HSK Study Tips

皴 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, but understanding it can enhance your comprehension of descriptive language in literature and art. Focus on recognizing how it relates to other words describing textures and states of matter.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese painting, the technique of depicting texture, including 皴, is vital for representing natural elements like rocks and trees, reflecting the importance of nature in Chinese art and philosophy.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 皴 with similar-sounding words like 存 (cún), which means 'to store'. For example, saying '我皴这个东西' (I store this thing) is incorrect; it should be '我存这个东西'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 皴

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Etymology of 皴

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

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 皴?

Decomposition of 皴

IDS Structure⿰夋皮
Full Character
=
qun1
left
Pi2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 皴?

Write 皴

Practice writing 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 皴

皴 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 1

Complete the Sentence

皮肤很容易受到刺激、发生____裂、擦得红肿和出现过敏。

Skin is easily irritated, chapped, chafed, and sensitized.

Example Sentences for 皴 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
皮肤很容易受到刺激、发生皴裂、擦得红肿和出现过敏。

pí fū hěn róng yì shòu dào cì jī、 、 fā shēng cūn、 liè 、 cā dé hóng zhǒng hé chū xiàn。

Skin is easily irritated, chapped, chafed, and sensitized.

Cultural Notes for 皴

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese painting, the technique of depicting texture, including 皴, is vital for representing natural elements like rocks and trees, reflecting the importance of nature in Chinese art and philosophy.

Word Family of 皴

Words Containing This Character2
cūnchapped
皴裂chap (lips, skin etc)
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 皴 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 皴

You can say '冬天我的嘴唇总是皴了' (In winter, my lips are always chapped).