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赧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
赧nǎnto blush, to turn redzg, 11 strokes, radical 赤, rank #94897, Very Hard
赧nǎnblushing with shameunknown, 11 strokes, radical 赤, rank #94897, Very Hard
nǎn(nan3)nan T3
  1. 1to blush, to turn red
  2. 2blushing with shame
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March 24, 2026

赧nǎn(nan3)

The character 赧 (nǎn) refers to the act of blushing, particularly due to feelings of shame or embarrassment. It is commonly used to describe a person's face turning red in response to an awkward situation or when they feel guilty. This word captures both the physical reaction and the emotional context behind it.

Strokes11Radical赤Frequency#94897DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, showing emotions such as embarrassment can be considered a sign of humility and modesty. The act of blushing is often associated with politeness and sensitivity to social situations, which is valued in many Chinese interactions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a shy person, whose face turns a bright red like a ripe apple whenever they feel embarrassed. The character 赧 has a resemblance to a person hiding their face, while the pronunciation 'nǎn' sounds like 'nanny,' who often comforts children when they're feeling embarrassed.

Meanings of 赧

nǎn(nan3)
1to blush, to turn red
2blushing with shame
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 赧

赧Simplified
11Strokes
赤Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 赧

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Podcast: 赧

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AI Study Notes for 赧

Quick Contrast

害羞 (hàixiū, shy) - use 赧 when emphasizing the physical reaction of blushing, while 害羞 focuses more on the emotional state of being shy.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 赧 with similar-sounding words, such as 难 (nán), which means difficult. This word is more likely to be used in informal contexts, so it's best suited for casual conversations rather than formal writing. Common collocations include expressions of feeling 赧 or using it to describe someone else's reaction.

HSK Study Tips

Although 赧 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be a useful addition for learners at HSK 4 or higher who are expanding their emotional expression vocabulary. Students should focus on context and emotional tone when using this word to convey the correct nuance.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 赧 in formal contexts, believing it to be suitable for all situations. For example, saying '在会议上我感到赧' (I felt embarrassed in the meeting) is inappropriate; a more formal expression would be better suited.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 赧

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Etymology of 赧

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

red

Semantic (meaning)赤
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 赧?

Decomposition of 赧

IDS Structure⿰赤?
赧Full Character
=
赤chi4
left
Exercise 1 of 1

Parts

Which of these is part of 赧?

How to say to blush, to turn red in Chinese

“to blush, to turn red” in Chinese is赧nǎn

The character 赧 (nǎn) refers to the act of blushing, particularly due to feelings of shame or embarrassment. It is commonly used to describe a person's face turning red in response to an awkward situation or when they feel guilty. This word captures both the physical reaction and the emotional context behind it.

When to use 赧

Be cautious not to confuse 赧 with similar-sounding words, such as 难 (nán), which means difficult. This word is more likely to be used in informal contexts, so it's best suited for casual conversations rather than formal writing. Common collocations include expressions of feeling 赧 or using it to describe someone else's reaction.

赧 or something close to it

害羞 (hàixiū, shy) - use 赧 when emphasizing the physical reaction of blushing, while 害羞 focuses more on the emotional state of being shy.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 赧 in formal contexts, believing it to be suitable for all situations. For example, saying '在会议上我感到赧' (I felt embarrassed in the meeting) is inappropriate; a more formal expression would be better suited.

Write 赧

赧

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

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Word Family of 赧

Words Containing This Character2
赧nǎnblushing with shame
愧赧red-faced
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 赧

What does 愧赧 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 赧

You can say '我感到很赧' (wǒ gǎndào hěn nǎn) meaning 'I feel very embarrassed.'

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