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March 24, 2026
綻zhàn(zhan4)
The character 綻 (zhàn) means to crack, burst open, or split at the seams. It is often used to describe something that is coming apart, such as a flower blooming or fabric tearing. In contexts like poetry or literature, it can also evoke imagery of beauty and vulnerability.
Strokes14Radical糹Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of flowers blooming (綻放) is often associated with new beginnings and the beauty of life, especially in poetry and art. The fleeting nature of blooms reflects the philosophical idea of impermanence.
Memory Tip
Imagine a beautiful flower (the radical '糸' for threads) bursting open (the character's form) in a vibrant garden. The sound 'zhàn' can remind you of 'jam', as in a jammed zipper that splits open, creating a moment of surprise.
Meanings of 綻
zhàn(zhan4)
1to crack; to burst open; to split at the seams
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About 綻
綻Simplified
14Strokes
糹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 綻
Podcast: 綻
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AI Study Notes for 綻
Quick Contrast
綻 (zhàn) vs 開 (kāi) — use 綻 when emphasizing a bursting or blooming action, while 開 focuses on the act of opening.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a beautiful flower (the radical '糸' for threads) bursting open (the character's form) in a vibrant garden. The sound 'zhàn' can remind you of 'jam', as in a jammed zipper that splits open, creating a moment of surprise.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 綻 with other similar characters like 断 (duàn), which means to break. This word is more likely to be used in descriptive or literary contexts rather than everyday conversation. It is commonly paired with words like '花' (flower) to describe blooming.
HSK Study Tips
Though not included in the HSK levels, understanding 綻 can enhance your vocabulary, especially in literature. Focus on its usage in contexts that describe beauty or fragility to connect with other descriptive terms.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of flowers blooming (綻放) is often associated with new beginnings and the beauty of life, especially in poetry and art. The fleeting nature of blooms reflects the philosophical idea of impermanence.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 綻 with 断 (duàn), leading to sentences like '他的衣服綻了' (His clothes cracked), instead of the correct '他的衣服断了' (His clothes broke). Focus on the context to avoid these errors.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 綻
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Cultural Notes for 綻
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of flowers blooming (綻放) is often associated with new beginnings and the beauty of life, especially in poetry and art. The fleeting nature of blooms reflects the philosophical idea of impermanence.
Word Family of 綻
Words Containing This Character10
绽放zhànfàngto blossom綻放
破绽hole or tear in cloth破綻
绽zhànto burst open綻
绽开to burst forth綻開
皮开肉绽flesh lacerated from corporal punishment (idiom)皮開肉綻
破绽百出lit. one hundred splits (idiom); fig. full of mistakes (of speech or written article)破綻百出
绽露to appear (formal)綻露
绽裂to split open綻裂
开绽to come unsewn開綻
卖破绽to feign an opening in order to hoodwink the opponent (in a fight, combat etc)賣破綻
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 绽放 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 綻
You can say 綻放的花朵 (zhànfàng de huāduǒ) which means 'blooming flowers'.
It's more common in written and literary contexts rather than everyday conversation.
Synonyms include 破裂 (pòliè, to break) and 裂开 (lièkāi, to split open), but each has its nuances.
