unknown, 9 strokes, radical 纟, rank #52156, Very Hard
绚
xuàn
gorgeous
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 纟, rank #52156, Very Hard
xuàn(xuan4) T4
1variegated, adorned; brilliant
2swift
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
绚(絢)xuàn(xuan4)
The character 绚 (xuàn) describes something that is adorned or decorated with a variety of colors, often conveying beauty or brilliance. It can be used to describe vibrant scenery, fashion, or artistic expressions, emphasizing visual splendor and richness. This term often appears in contexts related to aesthetics and artistry.
Strokes9Radical纟Frequency#52156DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'brilliance' is often associated with festivals and celebrations, where vibrant decorations play a crucial role. The character 绚 can evoke images of traditional Chinese New Year celebrations, where colorful lanterns and decorations symbolize joy and prosperity.
Memory Tip
Imagine a stunning sunset (representing 'brilliant') with vibrant colors (representing 'variegated') painting the sky. The character 绚 has '丝' (silk) at the bottom, suggesting softness and beauty, while the top part reminds you of the colorful patterns in a rich tapestry, making it easier to remember the sound 'xuàn' and its meaning.
Meanings of 绚
xuàn(xuan4)
1variegated, adorned; brilliant
2swift
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 绚
绚Simplified
絢Traditional
9Strokes
纟Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 绚
Podcast: 绚
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AI Study Notes for 绚
Quick Contrast
绚 (xuàn) vs 鲜 (xiān) — use 绚 for visual splendor and richness, while 鲜 emphasizes freshness and vividness.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone, as 绚 (xuàn) is pronounced with a falling tone, which is crucial for clarity. This word is often used in formal contexts, such as literature or art critiques, rather than in casual conversation. Common collocations include 绚丽 (xuànlì, brilliant) and 绚烂 (xuànlàn, resplendent).
HSK Study Tips
Although 绚 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other HSK words related to beauty and color, such as 美 (měi, beautiful) and 彩色 (cǎisè, colorful). Students should focus on the visual aspects and emotional connotations of the word to enhance their vocabulary related to aesthetics.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 绚 with similar-sounding words like 玄 (xuán, mysterious) due to the tonal difference. A common mistake is using it in casual contexts where simpler words like 美丽 (měilì, beautiful) would suffice.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 绚
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Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 旬 represents the sound. Simplified form of 絢.
1The meaning half纟 carries the sense.
2The sound half旬 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaysilk
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 绚? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 绚?
Decomposition of 绚
IDS Structure⿰纟旬
绚Full Character
=
纟si1
left
旬xun2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 绚?
How to say variegated, adorned; brilliant in Chinese
“variegated, adorned; brilliant” in Chinese is绚xuàn
The character 绚 (xuàn) describes something that is adorned or decorated with a variety of colors, often conveying beauty or brilliance. It can be used to describe vibrant scenery, fashion, or artistic expressions, emphasizing visual splendor and richness. This term often appears in contexts related to aesthetics and artistry.
When to use 绚
Be cautious with the tone, as 绚 (xuàn) is pronounced with a falling tone, which is crucial for clarity. This word is often used in formal contexts, such as literature or art critiques, rather than in casual conversation. Common collocations include 绚丽 (xuànlì, brilliant) and 绚烂 (xuànlàn, resplendent).
绚 or something close to it
绚 (xuàn) vs 鲜 (xiān) — use 绚 for visual splendor and richness, while 鲜 emphasizes freshness and vividness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 绚 with similar-sounding words like 玄 (xuán, mysterious) due to the tonal difference. A common mistake is using it in casual contexts where simpler words like 美丽 (měilì, beautiful) would suffice.
Write 绚
绚
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Practice writing 绚 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 绚
绚 carries 3 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 4
Complete the Sentence
尤其是在四五月份，不计其数的野花盛开，山谷里一片____烂色彩。
Millions of wild flowers colour the valleys, especially in April and May.
