Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
胗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
zhēnmeasles, pustules, rashg, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #67956, Very Hard
zhēngizzardunknown, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #67956, Very Hard
zhēn(zhen1) T1
  1. 1measles, pustules, rash
  2. 2gizzard
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
zhēn(zhen1)

The character 胗 (zhēn) primarily refers to measles or a rash, which are skin conditions marked by spots or pustules. It can also denote the gizzard, an organ found in some animals that grinds food, often used in culinary contexts. This dual usage highlights its significance in both medical and dietary terminology.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#67956DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, skin conditions like measles were often treated with herbal remedies, showcasing the cultural importance of health and wellness in Chinese society. Additionally, gizzards are a common ingredient in various regional dishes, emphasizing the significance of using all parts of an animal in Chinese cooking.

Memory Tip

Imagine a chicken (which has a gizzard) that has spots all over its body resembling measles. The sound 'zhēn' could remind you of 'zen' but with a twinkle of spots, making it easier to remember that this character relates to both skin conditions and internal organs.

Meanings of 胗

zhēn(zhen1)
1measles, pustules, rash
2gizzard
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 胗

Simplified
9Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 胗

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 胗

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a chicken (which has a gizzard) that has spots all over its body resembling measles. The sound 'zhēn' could remind you of 'zen' but with a twinkle of spots, making it easier to remember that this character relates to both skin conditions and internal organs.

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 胗 in conversation, as its medical connotation might seem informal in casual contexts. It is often used in health discussions or specific culinary contexts when referring to dishes that include gizzards. The pronunciation 'zhēn' should be pronounced with a high level tone to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 胗 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be connected to HSK Level 5 words related to health and food. Students should focus on understanding its usage in medical texts or culinary contexts to gain a broader vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, skin conditions like measles were often treated with herbal remedies, showcasing the cultural importance of health and wellness in Chinese society. Additionally, gizzards are a common ingredient in various regional dishes, emphasizing the significance of using all parts of an animal in Chinese cooking.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 胗 with similar-sounding characters like 震 (zhèn), which means 'to shake' or 'to tremble.' Always remember 胗 is related specifically to skin conditions and gizzards. A common error is using 胗 in informal contexts; instead, opt for more casual terms for skin issues.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 胗

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 胗

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

flesh

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 胗?

Decomposition of 胗

IDS Structure⿰⺼㐱
Full Character
=
rou4
left
zhen3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 胗?

Write 胗

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 胗

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese medicine, skin conditions like measles were often treated with herbal remedies, showcasing the cultural importance of health and wellness in Chinese society. Additionally, gizzards are a common ingredient in various regional dishes, emphasizing the significance of using all parts of an animal in Chinese cooking.

Word Family of 胗

Words Containing This Character1
zhēngizzard
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 胗 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 胗

It means measles or pustules, and can also refer to the gizzard.