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贗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
贗yànfalse, bogus; counterfeit; a shamx, 22 strokes, radical 貝
yàn(yan4) T4
  1. 1false, bogus; counterfeit; a sham
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

贗yàn(yan4)

The character 贗 (yàn) refers to something that is false or counterfeit, often used to describe fake goods or sham situations. It conveys a sense of deception or imitation, commonly encountered in discussions about authenticity in products or claims.

Strokes22Radical貝
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the authenticity of goods is of significant concern, especially with luxury items. The prevalence of counterfeit goods has led to a strong emphasis on verifying the legitimacy of products, particularly in markets like fashion and electronics.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'yawn' (sounds like 'yàn') when you realize that something you thought was valuable is actually a fake. The character 贗 has the '貝' (shell) radical, which often relates to money, suggesting that the false item is an imitation of something valuable.

Meanings of 贗

yàn(yan4)
1false, bogus; counterfeit; a sham
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 贗

贗Simplified
22Strokes
貝Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 贗

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Podcast: 贗

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AI Study Notes for 贗

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 贗 in formal contexts, as it can carry a negative connotation. It's often used in phrases like '贗品' (fake product) and should not be confused with '真' (true). Ensure the tone is correct, as mispronunciation can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Though 贗 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it relates to concepts of authenticity found in other HSK words. Focus on recognizing its negative connotation in the context of discussions about products and honesty.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 贗 with its synonym 假 (jiǎ) and may use them interchangeably. For example, saying '这是假品' (This is a false product) instead of using 贗 can dilute the specific meaning of counterfeiting.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 贗

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Etymology of 贗

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

"Wild goose" 鴈 money 貝; 鴈 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 贗

  1. 1The giveaway"Wild goose" 鴈 money 貝; 鴈 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 贗? 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 贗?

Decomposition of 贗

IDS Structure⿸鴈貝
贗Full Character
=
鴈yan4
enclosing
貝bei4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 贗?

How to say false, bogus; counterfeit; a sham in Chinese

“false, bogus; counterfeit; a sham” in Chinese is贗yàn

The character 贗 (yàn) refers to something that is false or counterfeit, often used to describe fake goods or sham situations. It conveys a sense of deception or imitation, commonly encountered in discussions about authenticity in products or claims.

When to use 贗

Be cautious when using 贗 in formal contexts, as it can carry a negative connotation. It's often used in phrases like '贗品' (fake product) and should not be confused with '真' (true). Ensure the tone is correct, as mispronunciation can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 贗 with its synonym 假 (jiǎ) and may use them interchangeably. For example, saying '这是假品' (This is a false product) instead of using 贗 can dilute the specific meaning of counterfeiting.

Write 贗

贗

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 贗

Words Containing This Character2
赝品fake贗品
赝yànfalse贋
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 赝品 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 贗

You might say '这个包是贗品' (This bag is a counterfeit).

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