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March 24, 2026
艳(艶)yàn(yan4)
The character 艳 (yàn) primarily means colorful, splendid, or gaudy, and is often used to describe things that are visually striking or beautiful. It can also carry romantic connotations, referring to something amorous or sensual. In contexts of envy, it may describe a person’s glamorous or attractive qualities that others admire.
Strokes10Radical色Frequency#4293DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of beauty and splendor is often celebrated in literature and art, where 艳 may describe the idealized beauty of a person or scene, reflecting traditional values of aesthetics and harmony.
Memory Tip
Imagine a vibrant, colorful garden (艳) filled with beautiful flowers, representing the splendor and allure associated with the character. The 'y' sound in yàn can remind you of 'yarn,' weaving together a story of beauty and charm that captivates the heart.
Meanings of 艳
yàn(yan4)
1colorful
2splendid
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 艳
艳Simplified
艶Traditional
10Strokes
色Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#4293Frequency Rank
Podcast: 艳
Podcast: 艳
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AI Study Notes for 艳
Quick Contrast
艳 (yàn) vs 美 (měi) — choose 艳 for colorful or gaudy beauty, while 美 emphasizes pure or graceful beauty.
Usage Notes
When using 艳, be mindful of its connotation; it can imply a level of extravagance or gaudiness that may not always be positive. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in descriptions of fashion or art. Avoid mixing it up with other similar-sounding words that may have different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
While 艳 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, its connections to beauty and color link it to other words at the beginner level, such as 美 (měi) for beautiful and 色 (sè) for color. Focus on practicing its pronunciation and context of use in descriptive language.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 艳 with 艳丽 (yànlì), which means beautiful and splendid but carries a more positive connotation. Avoid using 艳 in contexts where you want to emphasize pure beauty without the nuances of gaudiness.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 艳
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How Well Do You Know 艳?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 艳 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 艳 (yàn) primarily means colorful, splendid, or gaudy, and is often used to describe things that are visually striking or beautiful. It can also carry romantic connotations, referring to something amorous or sensual. In contexts of envy, it may describe a person’s glamorous or attractive qualities that others admire.
When to use 艳
When using 艳, be mindful of its connotation; it can imply a level of extravagance or gaudiness that may not always be positive. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in descriptions of fashion or art. Avoid mixing it up with other similar-sounding words that may have different meanings.
艳 or something close to it
艳 (yàn) vs 美 (měi) — choose 艳 for colorful or gaudy beauty, while 美 emphasizes pure or graceful beauty.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 艳 with 艳丽 (yànlì), which means beautiful and splendid but carries a more positive connotation. Avoid using 艳 in contexts where you want to emphasize pure beauty without the nuances of gaudiness.
Write 艳
艳
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Practice writing 艳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 艳
艳 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 8 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
有时跳这种舞的人会手拿色彩鲜____的丝巾。
Sometimes the people doing this dance hold brightly colored scarves.
Example Sentences for 艳 (10)
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1
有时跳这种舞的人会手拿色彩鲜艳的丝巾。
yǒu shí tiào zhè zhǒng wǔ de rén huì shǒu ná sè cǎi xiān yàn de sī jīn。
Sometimes the people doing this dance hold brightly colored scarves.
