HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 彳, rank #22224, Hard
衔
xián
bit (of a bridle)
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 彳, rank #22224, Hard
衔
xián
to hold in the mouth
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 彳, rank #22224, Hard
衔
xián
to harbor (feelings)
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 彳, rank #22224, Hard
衔
xián
to link
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 彳, rank #22224, Hard
衔
xián
to accept
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 彳, rank #22224, Hard
衔
xián
rank
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 彳, rank #22224, Hard
衔
xián
title
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 彳, rank #22224, Hard
衔
xián
rank, title; to bite, to hold in the mouth
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 彳, rank #22224, Hard
xián(xian2) T2
1>衔[xián]
2bit (of a bridle)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
衔(啣)xián(xian2)
The character 衔 (xián) primarily means 'to hold in the mouth' or 'to link.' It is often used in contexts involving carrying something, such as a horse's bit, or metaphorically to describe harboring feelings or titles. The term conveys a sense of connection or acceptance, making it versatile in both literal and figurative language.
Strokes11Radical彳Frequency#22224DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of rank and title is significant, especially in traditional contexts such as family lineage and social status. The use of 衔 reflects the importance of one's position in society, often tied to respect and heritage.
Memory Tip
Imagine a horse with a bit in its mouth, holding onto it tightly, representing the character 衔 (xián). The left part of the character, 衤, suggests clothing or covering, while the right part, 嚼, resembles a mouth holding something. Picture the horse linking its feelings to its rider as they work together.
Meanings of 衔
xián(xian2)
1bit (of a bridle)
2to hold in the mouth
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 衔
衔Simplified
啣Traditional
11Strokes
彳Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#22224Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 衔
Podcast: 衔
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 衔
Quick Contrast
衔 (xián) vs 承 (chéng) — use 衔 for holding in the mouth or linking, while 承 is used for accepting or undertaking responsibilities.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a horse with a bit in its mouth, holding onto it tightly, representing the character 衔 (xián). The left part of the character, 衤, suggests clothing or covering, while the right part, 嚼, resembles a mouth holding something. Picture the horse linking its feelings to its rider as they work together.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 衔 (xián) with similar-sounding characters like 咸 (xián), which means 'salty.' This character is more formal and often appears in written language. Common collocations include 衔接 (xiánjiē, to link or connect) and 衔位 (xiánwèi, rank or title).
HSK Study Tips
Although 衔 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be connected to HSK Level 4 words that deal with relationships and connections, such as 连接 (liánjiē, to connect). Focus on understanding its application in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of rank and title is significant, especially in traditional contexts such as family lineage and social status. The use of 衔 reflects the importance of one's position in society, often tied to respect and heritage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 衔 (xián) with other characters that sound similar, leading to misunderstandings. For example, saying '我衔了这个问题' (I held this problem) instead of '我接受了这个问题' (I accepted this problem) can lead to confusion; use 衔 when discussing links or connections.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 衔
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 衔 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 衔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 衔
衔 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 9 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
Complete the Sentence
这名重量级拳击冠军将尝试挑战霍利菲尔德的世界冠军头____。
The heavyweight champion will be given a shot at Holyfield's world title.
Example Sentences for 衔 (9)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这名重量级拳击冠军将尝试挑战霍利菲尔德的世界冠军头衔。
zhè míng zhòng liáng jí quán jī guān jūn jiāng cháng shì tiāo zhàn huò lì fēi ěr dé de shì jiè guān jūn tóu xián。
The heavyweight champion will be given a shot at Holyfield's world title.
2
剧本吸收了三个苏格兰民间故事并把它们相互衔接起来。
jù běn xī shōu le sān gè sū gé lán mín jiān gù shì bìng bǎ tā mén xiāng hù xián jiē qǐ lái。
The play takes three Scottish tales and interlinks them.
3
那是国王赐给他的头衔。
nà shì guó wáng cì gěi tā de tóu xián。
It was a title bestowed upon him by the king.
4
凭着对时装业的杰出贡献，他于1990年荣获英帝国官佐勋衔。
píng zháo duì shí zhuāng yè de jié chū gòng xiàn， ， tā1990 yú 1990 nián róng huò yīng dì guó guān zuǒ。
He was awarded the OBE in 1990 for services to fashion.
5
母鸟在把打来的食衔回去喂小鸟.
mǔ niǎo zài bǎ dǎ lái de shí xián huí qù wèi xiǎo niǎo.
The mother bird was taking food to its young.
6
空缺的世界拳击理事会次轻量级头衔被取消了。
kōng quē de shì jiè quán jī lǐ shì huì cì qīng liáng jí tóu xián bèi qǔ xiāo le。
The vacant W.B.C. junior-lightweight title has been called off.
chú xìng míng、 、 jūn、 xián 、 bù duì biān hào hé chū shēng nián， yuè wài ， tā zài yě bù kěn huí dá fú huò tā de rén de rèn。
He could never ever give any responses to his captor other than name, rank, serial number and date of birth.
9
现在,他正衔着旱烟管,扒在洞窟随手捡翻.
xiàn zài, , tā zhèng xián zháo hàn yān, guǎn , bā zài dòng kū suí shǒu.
With a pipe in his mouth , Taoist Wang jumbled through his new discoveries in the cave.
Cultural Notes for 衔
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of rank and title is significant, especially in traditional contexts such as family lineage and social status. The use of 衔 reflects the importance of one's position in society, often tied to respect and heritage.
Word Family of 衔
Words Containing This Character13
头衔tóuxiántitle頭銜
衔接xiánjiēto combine銜接
衔xiánto link銜
军衔army rank軍銜
领衔leading (role)領銜
官衔title官銜
领衔主演starring領銜主演
警衔police rank警銜
授衔rank of professor授銜
职衔title (position within an organization)職銜
名衔rank名銜
学衔rank學銜
结草衔环to repay sb's kind acts (idiom)結草銜環
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 头衔 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 衔
衔 is commonly used to describe holding something in the mouth, linking concepts, or representing a rank or title.
While 衔 and 銜 are variants, 衔 is more commonly used in modern contexts, particularly in the sense of linking or harboring feelings.
Yes, while it is more formal, 衔 can be used in discussions about feelings or relationships, especially in written language.
