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March 24, 2026
詹zhān(Zhan1)
The character 詹 (zhān) primarily refers to someone who is talkative or verbose, often used to describe a person who tends to speak a lot or in great detail. Additionally, it is a surname in Chinese culture, indicating its use in personal names. In conversation, it may imply a playful or lighthearted tone when referring to someone's chattiness.
Strokes13Radical言Frequency#11916DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The surname 詹 is relatively rare in China, but it is recognized and associated with specific historical figures, such as 詹天佑, a famous engineer known for his contributions to railways. This character reflects the significance of surnames in Chinese identity and lineage.
Memory Tip
Think of 詹 as a 'chatterbox' who can't stop talking. The radical 言 (yán) related to speech is present, reminding you of its connection to talking. Imagine a character named Zhan who is always at the center of conversations, sharing detailed stories.
Meanings of 詹
zhān(Zhan1)
1talkative, verbose; surname
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 詹
詹Simplified
13Strokes
言Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 詹
Podcast: 詹
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AI Study Notes for 詹
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 詹 with similar-sounding names or terms that relate to different contexts. It is generally informal, so use it when chatting with friends rather than in formal writing. Common collocations include phrases describing someone's talkative nature.
HSK Study Tips
While 詹 is not included in the HSK list, students at this level can relate it to other characters involving speech or communication, like 说 (shuō) or 聊 (liáo). Focus on practicing the pronunciation and context of usage in everyday conversations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 詹 with 赞 (zàn), which means to praise. For example, saying '我很詹你的表演' (Wǒ hěn zhān nǐ de biǎoyǎn) is incorrect; it should be '我很赞你的表演' (Wǒ hěn zàn nǐ de biǎoyǎn).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 詹
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2The sound half厂 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayspeech
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 詹? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 詹?
Decomposition of 詹
IDS Structure⿸厂⿱八言
詹Full Character
=
厂chang3
enclosing
八ba1
top
言yan2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 詹?
How to say surname Zhan in Chinese
“surname Zhan” in Chinese is詹zhān
The character 詹 (zhān) primarily refers to someone who is talkative or verbose, often used to describe a person who tends to speak a lot or in great detail. Additionally, it is a surname in Chinese culture, indicating its use in personal names. In conversation, it may imply a playful or lighthearted tone when referring to someone's chattiness.
When to use 詹
Be careful not to confuse 詹 with similar-sounding names or terms that relate to different contexts. It is generally informal, so use it when chatting with friends rather than in formal writing. Common collocations include phrases describing someone's talkative nature.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 詹 with 赞 (zàn), which means to praise. For example, saying '我很詹你的表演' (Wǒ hěn zhān nǐ de biǎoyǎn) is incorrect; it should be '我很赞你的表演' (Wǒ hěn zàn nǐ de biǎoyǎn).
Write 詹
詹
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Practice writing 詹 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 詹
詹 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
____姆斯·福克斯以《欲望城》一书最为出名.
James Fox is best known as the author of White Mischief.
