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阍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
阍hūngatekeeper; gate, doorng, 11 strokes, radical 门
阍hūndoor-keeperunknown, 11 strokes, radical 门
hūn(hun1)hun T1
  1. 1gatekeeper; gate, door
  2. 2door-keeper
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March 24, 2026

阍(閽)hūn(hun1)

The character 阍 (hūn) refers to a gatekeeper or doorkeeper, someone responsible for guarding or managing access to a place. It is often used in contexts related to security or entry points, emphasizing the role of a person who controls who can enter or leave a specific area.

Strokes11Radical门
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, gates and doors often symbolize transitions or thresholds, and the role of gatekeepers can be seen in historical contexts, such as during ancient dynasties when access to the palace was strictly controlled.

Memory tip

Imagine a large gate with a huge guard standing in front of it, keeping watch. The character 阍 resembles a gate (阝) with a person (亻) nearby, symbolizing the doorkeeper's presence at the entrance, making it easier to remember that 阍 means gatekeeper.

Meanings of 阍

hūn(hun1)
1gatekeeper; gate, door
2door-keeper
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 阍

阍Simplified
閽Traditional
11Strokes
门Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 阍

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Podcast: 阍

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AI Study Notes for 阍

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing hūn, as mispronouncing it can confuse it with other tones. This word is more formal and is not commonly used in casual conversation. It often appears in literary or historical contexts, so understanding those contexts is crucial.

HSK Study Tips

Although 阍 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to other words related to doors and access, such as 门 (mén, door) and 问 (wèn, to ask). Students should focus on recognizing this character in context and understanding its role in compound words.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 阍 with the more common 门 (mén). For example, saying '我在阍' (wǒ zài hūn) when they actually mean '我在门' (wǒ zài mén) to indicate they are at the door. Remember, 阍 is more specialized.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 阍

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Jason Explains 阍 to You

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Etymology of 阍

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

gate

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

Origin

阍 = 门 + 昏. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 阍

IDS Structure⿵门昏
阍Full character
=
门Men2
enclosing
昏hun1
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 阍?

How to say gatekeeper; gate, door in Chinese

“gatekeeper; gate, door” in Chinese is阍hūn

The character 阍 (hūn) refers to a gatekeeper or doorkeeper, someone responsible for guarding or managing access to a place. It is often used in contexts related to security or entry points, emphasizing the role of a person who controls who can enter or leave a specific area.

When to use 阍

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing hūn, as mispronouncing it can confuse it with other tones. This word is more formal and is not commonly used in casual conversation. It often appears in literary or historical contexts, so understanding those contexts is crucial.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 阍 with the more common 门 (mén). For example, saying '我在阍' (wǒ zài hūn) when they actually mean '我在门' (wǒ zài mén) to indicate they are at the door. Remember, 阍 is more specialized.

Write 阍

阍

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

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Word Family of 阍

Words containing this character1
阍hūndoorkeeper閽

Frequently Asked Questions about 阍

No, 阍 is more often found in historical or literary texts rather than everyday conversation.

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