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眷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
眷juànto take an interest in; to care forn, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #30076, Very Hard
眷juànconcernunknown, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #30076, Very Hard
眷juànwife and childrenunknown, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #30076, Very Hard
眷juànto look fondly onunknown, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #30076, Very Hard
juàn(juan4)juan T4
  1. 1to take an interest in; to care for
  2. 2concern
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March 24, 2026

眷(睠)juàn(juan4)

The character 眷 (juàn) primarily conveys the idea of caring for someone or something, often in a familial or affectionate sense. It is commonly used to describe emotional connections, such as concern for one's family or loved ones, and can also refer to a sense of fondness or attachment.

Strokes11Radical目Frequency#30076DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, familial bonds are highly valued, and the concept of 眷 reflects the importance of caring for one's family. This character is often encountered in discussions about loyalty and affection within family units, which are central to Chinese social values.

Memory tip

Imagine a person gazing fondly at their family (the two dots represent the eyes looking) while the surrounding components suggest warmth and care. The character 眷 looks like two eyes (the 'viewing' aspect) surrounded by the idea of closeness, symbolizing the act of caring deeply for those you love.

Meanings of 眷

juàn(juan4)
1to take an interest in; to care for
2concern
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 眷

眷Simplified
睠Traditional
11Strokes
目Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 眷

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Podcast: 眷

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AI study notes for 眷

Quick Contrast

眷 (juàn) vs 爱 (ài) — choose 眷 for a sense of familial care or concern, while 爱 is more general for love or affection.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 眷 with similar-sounding characters like 选 (xuǎn, to choose), as they have different meanings and uses. This character is more formal and typically used in written contexts, while in spoken language, simpler terms for 'care' may be preferred. Common collocations include 眷顾 (juàn gù, to take care of) and 眷恋 (juàn liàn, to be fond of).

HSK Study Tips

Although 眷 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance comprehension of family-related discussions. Students at HSK Level 4 should focus on the emotional and familial contexts of vocabulary related to care and concern.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 眷 by confusing it with similar characters, leading to incorrect phrases such as 眷心 (which is incorrect). Instead, focus on using the term in appropriate contexts related to care and affection.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 眷

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Etymology of 眷

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

eye

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

Origin

眷 = 目 + 龹. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 眷

IDS Structure⿱龹目
眷Full character
=
龹quan3
top
目mu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 眷?

How to say to take an interest in; to care for in Chinese

“to take an interest in; to care for” in Chinese is眷juàn

The character 眷 (juàn) primarily conveys the idea of caring for someone or something, often in a familial or affectionate sense. It is commonly used to describe emotional connections, such as concern for one's family or loved ones, and can also refer to a sense of fondness or attachment.

When to use 眷

Be cautious not to confuse 眷 with similar-sounding characters like 选 (xuǎn, to choose), as they have different meanings and uses. This character is more formal and typically used in written contexts, while in spoken language, simpler terms for 'care' may be preferred. Common collocations include 眷顾 (juàn gù, to take care of) and 眷恋 (juàn liàn, to be fond of).

眷 or something close to it

眷 (juàn) vs 爱 (ài) — choose 眷 for a sense of familial care or concern, while 爱 is more general for love or affection.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 眷 by confusing it with similar characters, leading to incorrect phrases such as 眷心 (which is incorrect). Instead, focus on using the term in appropriate contexts related to care and affection.

Write 眷

眷

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

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Grammar patterns of 眷

眷 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). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

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

巡官客客气气告辞了女____们.

The sergeant took a polite leave of the ladies.

Example sentences for 眷 (1)

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1
巡官客客气气告辞了女眷们.

xún guān kè kèqi qì gàocí le nǚ juàn men.

The sergeant took a polite leave of the ladies.

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Word Family of 眷

Words containing this character15
眷顾to care for眷顧
眷恋to miss眷戀
眷juànto care about睠
眷属family member眷屬
家眷one's wife and children
有情人终成眷属love will find a way (idiom)有情人終成眷屬
终成眷属love will find a way (idiom)終成眷屬
眷念to think fondly of
女眷womenfolk
亲眷relatives親眷
内眷womenfolk內眷
眷爱to love眷愛
眷注to think fondly of sb眷註
眷怀to miss眷懷
眷眷之心nostalgia
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 眷

What does 眷顾 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 眷

In a family context, 眷 refers to the care and affection one has towards family members, indicating a deep emotional connection.

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