unknown, 12 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #58674, Very Hard
腆
tiǎn
virtuous
unknown, 12 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #58674, Very Hard
tiǎn(tian3) T3
1good, strong; prosperous; protruding
2make strong (as liquors)
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March 24, 2026
腆tiǎn(tian3)
The character 腆 (tiǎn) primarily conveys meanings associated with being protruding or bulging, often in a physical sense, such as a full belly or a strong presence. It can also imply prosperity or being virtuous, especially in contexts related to qualities that are admirable or noteworthy.
Strokes12Radical⺼Frequency#58674DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of being 'full' or 'prosperous' is often celebrated, particularly in the context of food and family gatherings during festivals, which aligns with the meanings associated with 腆.
Memory Tip
Imagine a proud peacock with its feathers fully fanned out, bulging outward to showcase its beauty—this reflects the idea of 腆 (tiǎn) as something that is protruding and strong. The radical '月' (yuè), often associated with the body, hints at the physical aspect of being full or robust.
Meanings of 腆
tiǎn(tian3)
1good, strong; prosperous; protruding
2make strong (as liquors)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 腆
腆Simplified
12Strokes
⺼Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 腆
Podcast: 腆
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AI Study Notes for 腆
Quick Contrast
膨 (péng) — use 腆 (tiǎn) when referring to a bulging quality that is more related to virtue or presence, while 膨 (péng) focuses more on physical swelling or expansion.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a proud peacock with its feathers fully fanned out, bulging outward to showcase its beauty—this reflects the idea of 腆 (tiǎn) as something that is protruding and strong. The radical '月' (yuè), often associated with the body, hints at the physical aspect of being full or robust.
Usage Notes
腆 is less commonly used in everyday conversation, so learners should be cautious about its context. It is often found in literary or formal settings. Common collocations include 腆肚子 (tiǎn dùzi) meaning 'to have a protruding belly'. Make sure to use the correct tone, as using a different tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
While 腆 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can help learners with related words that deal with physical characteristics or virtues. Focus on recognizing the components and radicals, as they often provide clues to the meaning.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of being 'full' or 'prosperous' is often celebrated, particularly in the context of food and family gatherings during festivals, which aligns with the meanings associated with 腆.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 腆 with similar sounding characters like 健 (jiàn, meaning 'healthy'), leading to incorrect interpretations. For instance, saying '他很健肚子' (Tā hěn jiàn dùzi) instead of '他很腆肚子' (Tā hěn tiǎn dùzi) would be incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 腆
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Grammar Patterns of 腆
腆 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 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 5
Complete the Sentence
很多人认为是他的腼____和缺乏安全感拖了他的后腿。
Many believe it was his shyness and insecurity which let him down.
Example Sentences for 腆 (4)
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1
很多人认为是他的腼腆和缺乏安全感拖了他的后腿。
hěn duō rén rèn wéi shì tā de miǎn tiǎn hé quē fá ān quán gǎn tuō le tā de hòu tuǐ。
Many believe it was his shyness and insecurity which let him down.
2
这孩子腼腆,不爱叫人.
zhè hái zǐ miǎn tiǎn, , bù ài jiào.
The child is shy and doesn't like to greet people.
3
话少而又腼腆的男子
huà shǎo ér yòu miǎn tiǎn de nán zǐ
a quiet, retiring man
4
博比望着她腼腆地咧嘴一笑。
bó bǐ wàng zháo tā miǎn tiǎn dì liě zuǐ yī xiào。
Bobby looked at her with a sheepish grin.
Cultural Notes for 腆
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of being 'full' or 'prosperous' is often celebrated, particularly in the context of food and family gatherings during festivals, which aligns with the meanings associated with 腆.
Word Family of 腆
Words Containing This Character2
腼腆shy靦腆
腆tiǎnvirtuous
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 腼腆 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 腆
腆 is often used in literary contexts or metaphors, such as describing someone with a 'protruding' character or a prosperous situation.
No, 腆 is more formal and may not be commonly used in casual conversation; it's better suited for writing or formal speech.
Think of 'tiǎn' as 'ti-yan' where 'ti' resembles 'tea' and 'yan' sounds like 'yarn', creating a vivid image of a strong cup of tea that fills you up.
