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罕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
罕hǎnrarea, 7 strokes, radical ⺳, rank #13053, Hard
罕hǎnrare, scarce; surnamea, 7 strokes, radical ⺳, rank #13053, Hard
hǎn(han3) T3
  1. 1rare
  2. 2rare, scarce; surname
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March 24, 2026

罕hǎn(han3)

The character 罕 (hǎn) means 'rare' or 'scarce', referring to something that is not commonly found or is infrequently encountered. It can be used in various contexts, such as describing rare natural phenomena, scarce resources, or even uncommon qualities in people.

Strokes7Radical⺳Frequency#13053DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, rarity often signifies value or uniqueness, as seen in discussions about rare antiques or traditional medicine. The appreciation for rare items reflects broader cultural values concerning history and heritage.

Memory Tip

Imagine a rare bird that you can hardly find; the character 罕 looks like a bird in a cage (罕) that is rarely seen. The 'h' sound in 'hǎn' can remind you of 'hard to find', emphasizing its rarity.

Meanings of 罕

hǎn(han3)
1rare
2rare, scarce; surname
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 罕

罕Simplified
7Strokes
⺳Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#13053Frequency Rank

Podcast: 罕

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Podcast: 罕

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AI Study Notes for 罕

Quick Contrast

稀 (xī) - use 罕 (hǎn) when emphasizing rarity in a more literary or formal context, while 稀 (xī) often describes something that is thinly spread or sparse.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a rare bird that you can hardly find; the character 罕 looks like a bird in a cage (罕) that is rarely seen. The 'h' sound in 'hǎn' can remind you of 'hard to find', emphasizing its rarity.

Usage Notes

When using 罕, be careful of its formal tone; it's often used in literary or academic contexts rather than in everyday conversation. A common collocation is '罕见' (hǎnjiàn), meaning 'rarely seen' or 'uncommon'. Remember to use the correct third tone (hǎn) to avoid confusion with other characters.

HSK Study Tips

Although 罕 is not included in the official HSK levels, it shares roots with other characters that express rarity or scarcity. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in compound words and phrases to understand its context better.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, rarity often signifies value or uniqueness, as seen in discussions about rare antiques or traditional medicine. The appreciation for rare items reflects broader cultural values concerning history and heritage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 罕 with similar-sounding characters like 汉 (hàn), which means 'Han' as in the Han dynasty or Han people. Make sure to remember the context and meaning for accurate usage.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 罕

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Etymology of 罕

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

An empty 干 fishing net ⺳; 干 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 罕?

Decomposition of 罕

IDS Structure⿱⺳干
罕Full Character
=
⺳—
top
干gan1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 罕?

Write 罕

罕

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

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Grammar Patterns of 罕

罕 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 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.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

这种疾病极为____见。

This disease is exceedingly rare.

Example Sentences for 罕 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
在1918年再版之前，这本书一直非常罕见。

zài1918 1918 nián zài bǎn zhī， qián ， zhè běn shū yī zhí fēi cháng。

It remained an exceptionally rare book until it was reprinted in
2
体貌完美的人极为罕见。

tǐ mào wán měi de rén jí wéi hǎn jiàn。

Physical perfection in a human being is exceedingly rare.
3
总统在新罕布什尔州可能会受到冷遇。

zǒng tǒng zài xīn hǎn bù shí ěr zhōu kě néng huì shòu dào lěng yù。

The president may get a frosty reception in New Hampshire.
4
在这种经济环境下，新想法极为罕见。

zài zhè zhǒng jīng jì huán jìng xià， ， xīn xiǎng fǎ jí wéi hǎn。

In this economic climate new ideas were few and far between.
5
亚伯拉罕·马斯洛形容心理学是“存在的科学”。

yà bó lā hǎn· · mǎ sī luò xíng róng xīn lǐ xué“ shì “ cún zài de”。

Abraham Maslow described psychology as "the science of being."
6
一只罕见的鸟刚飞了过去.

yī zhī hǎn jiàn de niǎo gāng fēi le guò qù.

A rare bird has just flown by.
7
一种罕见的小矮马

yī zhǒng hǎn jiàn de xiǎo ǎi mǎ

a rare breed of miniature horses
8
我 倒 是听说过一些罕见的癖好, 但是我还从没听说过收集伞的.

wǒ dǎo shì tīng shuō guò yī xiē hǎn jiàn de, pǐ hǎo , dàn shì wǒ huán cóng méi tīng shuō guò shōu.

I've heard of unusual Hobbies, but I've never heard of collecting umbrellas.
9
富兰克有罕见的温情.

fù lán kè yǒu hǎn jiàn de wēn qíng.

Frank had his churlish delicacies.
10
他染了头发，这在20世纪60年代是罕见的事。

tā rǎn le tóu fā， ， zhè20 zài 2060 shì jì 60 nián dài shì hǎn。

He'd dyed his hair, which was almost unheard-of in the 1960s.

Cultural Notes for 罕

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, rarity often signifies value or uniqueness, as seen in discussions about rare antiques or traditional medicine. The appreciation for rare items reflects broader cultural values concerning history and heritage.

Word Family of 罕

Words Containing This Character14
罕见hǎnjiànrare罕見
稀罕xīhanrare
罕hǎnrare
穆罕默德Mohammed (c. 570-632), central figure of Islam and prophet of God
亚伯拉罕Abraham (name)亞伯拉罕
罕有rare
新罕布什尔州New Hampshire, US state新罕布什爾州
人迹罕至lonely人跡罕至
希罕rare
新罕布什尔New Hampshire, US state新罕布什爾
伊斯法罕Isfahan or Eşfahān, province and city in central Iran
赛罕区Saihan District of Hohhot City 呼和浩特市[Hū​hé​hào​tè​Shì], Inner Mongolia賽罕區
纳罕bewildered納罕
撒马尔罕Samarkand, city in Uzbekistan撒馬爾罕
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 罕见 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 罕

You can say '这种植物在这里很罕见' (Zhè zhǒng zhíwù zài zhèlǐ hěn hǎnjiàn), meaning 'This type of plant is very rare here.'