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谳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
yànto decide, to judge; decision, verdictg, 15 strokes, radical 讠, Very Hard
yànto decide judiciallyunknown, 15 strokes, radical 讠, Very Hard
yàn(yan4) T4
  1. 1to decide, to judge; decision, verdict
  2. 2to decide judicially
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March 24, 2026
(讞)yàn(yan4)

The character 谳 (yàn) refers to the act of deciding or judging, particularly in a legal context. It signifies a formal judgment or verdict made in a judicial setting, highlighting its connection to the justice system and decision-making processes.

Strokes15RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of judgment is deeply rooted in the Confucian value of righteousness, where decisions made in legal matters reflect social morals and ethics. The role of the judge is seen as maintaining harmony in society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a gavel striking down to pronounce a verdict in court, making a clear 'yàn' sound. The character 谳 combines the speech radical 讠, indicating communication or judgment, with the character 亘, suggesting continuity in legal decisions.

Meanings of 谳

yàn(yan4)
1to decide, to judge; decision, verdict
2to decide judicially
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 谳

Simplified
Traditional
15Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 谳

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AI Study Notes for 谳

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a gavel striking down to pronounce a verdict in court, making a clear 'yàn' sound. The character 谳 combines the speech radical 讠, indicating communication or judgment, with the character 亘, suggesting continuity in legal decisions.

Usage Notes

When using 谳, it is important to maintain a formal tone as it pertains to legal judgments. Common collocations include phrases like '判决' (pànjué - verdict) and '法律' (fǎlǜ - law). Learners might confuse it with similar-sounding terms, so attention to tone is crucial.

HSK Study Tips

Although 谳 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with legal terms at higher levels. Students should focus on understanding its application in formal contexts and how it relates to other judiciary-related vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of judgment is deeply rooted in the Confucian value of righteousness, where decisions made in legal matters reflect social morals and ethics. The role of the judge is seen as maintaining harmony in society.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 谳 with other judgment-related terms like 判 (pàn) and 裁 (cái). For example, saying '我谳这个案子' (Wǒ yàn zhège ànzi) is incorrect; it should be '我判这个案子' (Wǒ pàn zhège ànzi) for general judgment.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 谳

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Etymology of 谳

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

speech

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 谳?

Decomposition of 谳

IDS Structure⿰讠献
Full Character
=
yan2
left
xian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 谳?

Write 谳

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

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Cultural Notes for 谳

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of judgment is deeply rooted in the Confucian value of righteousness, where decisions made in legal matters reflect social morals and ethics. The role of the judge is seen as maintaining harmony in society.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, the concept of judgment often emphasizes individual rights and adversarial proceedings, while in Chinese culture, there is a stronger focus on communal harmony and moral righteousness.

Word Family of 谳

Words Containing This Character1
yànto decide judicially
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 谳 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 谳

While both relate to judgment, 谳 specifically refers to formal judicial decisions, whereas 判 (pàn) can mean to judge more generally.