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鈍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鈍dùnblunt, obtuse; dull, flat; dim-wittedx, 12 strokes, radical 釒, rank #77244, Very Hard
dùn(dun4)dun T4
  1. 1blunt, obtuse; dull, flat; dim-witted
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March 24, 2026

鈍dùn(dun4)

The character 鈍 (dùn) primarily means 'blunt' or 'obtuse,' often referring to objects such as knives that are not sharp. It can also describe someone who is dull-witted or slow to understand things, emphasizing a lack of sharpness in intellect or perception. In various contexts, it may convey a sense of being flat or lacking in brightness.

Strokes12Radical釒Frequency#77244DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'sharp' versus 'blunt' can extend metaphorically to intelligence and quick-wittedness. Being described as 鈍 may carry a slightly negative connotation in educational or professional settings.

Memory tip

Imagine a dull knife (鈍) that is unable to cut through anything, representing the character's meaning of bluntness. The character's radical, 钅 (metal), hints at tools made of metal that can become dull, while the pronunciation 'dùn' sounds like 'dull' – both in sound and meaning.

Meanings of 鈍

dùn(dun4)
1blunt, obtuse; dull, flat; dim-witted
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鈍

鈍Simplified
12Strokes
釒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鈍

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Podcast: 鈍

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AI study notes for 鈍

Quick Contrast

钝 (dùn) vs 迟钝 (chídùn) — use 鈍 for a more general description of bluntness or dullness, while 迟钝 specifically emphasizes slowness in reaction or understanding.

Usage Notes

When using 鈍, be careful to distinguish between physical dullness (e.g., a knife) and intellectual dullness (e.g., a person's understanding). It is typically used in informal contexts and might not be appropriate in formal discussions. Common collocations include 鈍刀 (dùn dāo - blunt knife) and 鈍感 (dùn gǎn - dull sensation).

HSK Study Tips

Although 鈍 is not a part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with other words that describe characteristics or qualities, like 锋 (fēng - sharp). Students should focus on recognizing the character's form and pronunciation, as well as its application in daily conversations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鈍 with 锋 (fēng - sharp) and incorrectly use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我有一个鈍刀' (I have a sharp knife) is incorrect, as it should be '我有一个锋利的刀' (I have a sharp knife).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鈍

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Etymology of 鈍

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 屯 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鈍.

Memory hint

metal

Semantic (meaning)釒
+
Phonetic (sound)屯
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

鈍 = 釒 + 屯. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鈍

IDS Structure⿰釒屯
鈍Full character
=
釒jin1
left
屯tun2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鈍?

How to say blunt, obtuse; dull, flat; dim-witted in Chinese

“blunt, obtuse; dull, flat; dim-witted” in Chinese is鈍dùn

The character 鈍 (dùn) primarily means 'blunt' or 'obtuse,' often referring to objects such as knives that are not sharp. It can also describe someone who is dull-witted or slow to understand things, emphasizing a lack of sharpness in intellect or perception. In various contexts, it may convey a sense of being flat or lacking in brightness.

When to use 鈍

When using 鈍, be careful to distinguish between physical dullness (e.g., a knife) and intellectual dullness (e.g., a person's understanding). It is typically used in informal contexts and might not be appropriate in formal discussions. Common collocations include 鈍刀 (dùn dāo - blunt knife) and 鈍感 (dùn gǎn - dull sensation).

鈍 or something close to it

钝 (dùn) vs 迟钝 (chídùn) — use 鈍 for a more general description of bluntness or dullness, while 迟钝 specifically emphasizes slowness in reaction or understanding.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鈍 with 锋 (fēng - sharp) and incorrectly use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我有一个鈍刀' (I have a sharp knife) is incorrect, as it should be '我有一个锋利的刀' (I have a sharp knife).

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鈍

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Word Family of 鈍

Words containing this character7
迟钝chídùnslow in one's reactions遲鈍
钝dùnblunt鈍
愚钝stupid愚鈍
钝角obtuse angle鈍角
鲁钝stupid魯鈍
成败利钝success and failure成敗利鈍
顽钝stupid頑鈍
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 鈍

What does 迟钝 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鈍

Common collocations include 鈍刀 (blunt knife) and 鈍感 (dull sensation).

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