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禅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
禅chánmeditation, contemplationHSK 6, n, 12 strokes, radical 礻, rank #18500, Hard
禅chándhyana (Sanskrit)HSK 6, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 礻, rank #18500, Hard
禅chánto abdicateHSK 6, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 礻, rank #18500, Hard
禅chánZenHSK 6, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 礻, rank #18500, Hard
禅chánmeditation (Buddhism)HSK 6, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 礻, rank #18500, Hard
禅shànmeditation, contemplationHSK 6, n, 12 strokes, radical 礻, rank #18500, Hard
禅shàndhyana (Sanskrit)HSK 6, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 礻, rank #18500, Hard
禅shànto abdicateHSK 6, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 礻, rank #18500, Hard
禅shànZenHSK 6, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 礻, rank #18500, Hard
禅shànmeditation (Buddhism)HSK 6, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 礻, rank #18500, Hard
chán(chan2)
primary
 T2
  1. 1meditation, contemplation
  2. 2dhyana (Sanskrit)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

禅(禪)chán(chan2)

禅 (chán) refers to a form of meditation in Buddhism that emphasizes deep contemplation and mindfulness. It is often associated with Zen Buddhism and represents a state of tranquility and insight. This term is commonly used in both spiritual and philosophical discussions within Chinese culture.

Strokes12Radical礻Frequency#18500DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

禅 is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, stemming from the interaction between Buddhism and Taoism, which emphasizes harmony with nature and inner peace. Zen gardens and tea ceremonies often incorporate elements of 禅 philosophy.

Memory Tip

Imagine sitting in a quiet garden, surrounded by nature, practicing meditation (禅). The character 禅 has a radical '示' (to show) which can remind you of showing peace and calmness through meditation. The pronunciation 'chán' sounds like 'calm' which connects to the tranquility of meditation.

Meanings of 禅

chán(chan2)
primary
1meditation, contemplation
2dhyana (Sanskrit)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 禅

禅Simplified
禪Traditional
12Strokes
礻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateCEFRC1

Podcast: 禅

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Podcast: 禅

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AI Study Notes for 禅

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine sitting in a quiet garden, surrounded by nature, practicing meditation (禅). The character 禅 has a radical '示' (to show) which can remind you of showing peace and calmness through meditation. The pronunciation 'chán' sounds like 'calm' which connects to the tranquility of meditation.

Usage Notes

禅 is typically used in formal or spiritual contexts, so it's best to avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include 禅宗 (Zen sect) and 禅修 (meditative practice). Pay attention to the tone; mispronouncing it can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 禅 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to other words related to Buddhism and meditation that learners might encounter. Students should focus on understanding the cultural significance and usage in religious texts.

Cultural Note

禅 is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, stemming from the interaction between Buddhism and Taoism, which emphasizes harmony with nature and inner peace. Zen gardens and tea ceremonies often incorporate elements of 禅 philosophy.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 禅 with other types of meditation like 静坐 (jìngzuò), which means 'quiet sitting.' It's important to note that 禅 has a deeper cultural and philosophical significance than just meditation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 禅

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Etymology of 禅

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

To pray 礻 alone 单; 单 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 禅?

Decomposition of 禅

IDS Structure⿰礻单
禅Full Character
=
礻shi4
left
单dan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 禅?

Write 禅

禅

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

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Grammar Patterns of 禅

禅 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 5 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 1

Complete the Sentence

知名 的有瑞云____寺 、 水母庙 、 咏归亭 、 碧霞祠等.

There are well - known Ruiyun Temple, jellyfish Temple, Yong - owned kiosks, as Ha Temple.

Example Sentences for 禅 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
知名 的有瑞云禅寺 、 水母庙 、 咏归亭 、 碧霞祠等.

zhī míng de yǒu ruì yún chán、 sì 、 shuǐ、 mǔ miào 、、 yǒng guī tíng 、.

There are well - known Ruiyun Temple, jellyfish Temple, Yong - owned kiosks, as Ha Temple.

Cultural Notes for 禅

🏮Cultural insight

禅 is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, stemming from the interaction between Buddhism and Taoism, which emphasizes harmony with nature and inner peace. Zen gardens and tea ceremonies often incorporate elements of 禅 philosophy.

Word Family of 禅

Words Containing This Character19
禅chánZen禪
口头禅mantra口頭禪
禅师honorific title for a Buddhist monk禪師
禅宗Zen Buddhism禪宗
班禅Panchen (Lama)班禪
禅城区Chancheng district, Foshan city, Guangdong禪城區
坐禅to meditate坐禪
禅杖chánzhàngthe staff of a Buddhist monk禪杖
禅城Chancheng district, Foshan city, Guangdong禪城
禅房a temple禪房
禅让to abdicate禪讓
参禅to sit in meditation參禪
禅机Buddhism subtleties禪機
受禅to accept abdication受禪
禅堂meditation room (in Buddhist monastery)禪堂
野狐禅heresy野狐禪
褒禅山Mt Baochan in Anhui褒禪山
班禅喇嘛Panchen Lama班禪喇嘛
禅林a Buddhist temple禪林
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 禅 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 禅

禅 specifically refers to the Buddhist practice of meditation that focuses on mindfulness and insight, while 普通的冥想 can encompass a wider range of meditative practices.