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骖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
骖cānthe two outside horses in a team of fourv, 11 strokes, radical 马
骖cānoutside horses of a team of 4unknown, 11 strokes, radical 马
cān(can1) T1
  1. 1the two outside horses in a team of four
  2. 2outside horses of a team of 4
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March 24, 2026

骖(驂)cān(can1)

The character 骖 (cān) refers to the two outer horses in a team of four. This term is often used in the context of chariots or horse-drawn vehicles, indicating a specific arrangement within a harness. It highlights the importance of teamwork and balance in traditional Chinese transportation.

Strokes11Radical马
Cultural Note

The concept of horse teams is rooted in ancient Chinese military and transportation practices, reflecting the significance of horses in Chinese history. The arrangement of horses in teams symbolizes order and hierarchy, which can also be seen in traditional Chinese art and literature.

Memory Tip

Think of the character 骖 as a horse (马) on the outside, with the two outside horses forming a protective barrier around the inner two. Imagine a scene where these two steadfast horses lead the way, ensuring stability and strength in the team, which helps to remember the pronunciation 'cān' as they 'scan' the path ahead.

Meanings of 骖

cān(can1)
1the two outside horses in a team of four
2outside horses of a team of 4
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 骖

骖Simplified
驂Traditional
11Strokes
马Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 骖

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Podcast: 骖

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AI Study Notes for 骖

Usage Notes

When using 骖, be aware that it is a niche term primarily found in classical literature or discussions about historical transportation. It's not commonly used in everyday conversation, so it may come off as overly formal or literary to casual speakers. Ensure correct pronunciation, as mispronouncing 'cān' can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Since 骖 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, focus on understanding its historical context and usage in literature. This word connects with other horse-related terms like 马 (mǎ - horse) and 驾 (jià - to drive), which are more commonly used. Familiarize yourself with these related words to enhance comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 骖 with other horse-related characters because of similar components. For example, using 骖 (cān) instead of 马 (mǎ) when simply referring to a horse is incorrect; remember that 骖 specifically denotes a team arrangement.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 骖

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Etymology of 骖

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

horse

Semantic (meaning)马
+
Phonetic (sound)参
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 骖

  1. 1The meaning half马 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half参 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhorse
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 骖? 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 骖?

Decomposition of 骖

IDS Structure⿰马参
骖Full Character
=
马Ma3
left
参can1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 骖?

How to say the two outside horses in a team of four in Chinese

“the two outside horses in a team of four” in Chinese is骖cān

The character 骖 (cān) refers to the two outer horses in a team of four. This term is often used in the context of chariots or horse-drawn vehicles, indicating a specific arrangement within a harness. It highlights the importance of teamwork and balance in traditional Chinese transportation.

When to use 骖

When using 骖, be aware that it is a niche term primarily found in classical literature or discussions about historical transportation. It's not commonly used in everyday conversation, so it may come off as overly formal or literary to casual speakers. Ensure correct pronunciation, as mispronouncing 'cān' can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 骖 with other horse-related characters because of similar components. For example, using 骖 (cān) instead of 马 (mǎ) when simply referring to a horse is incorrect; remember that 骖 specifically denotes a team arrangement.

Write 骖

骖

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

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Word Family of 骖

Words Containing This Character1
骖cānoutside horses of a team of 4驂
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 骖 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 骖

In modern language, 骖 is not commonly used and primarily refers to the outer horses of a four-horse team, relevant mainly in historical contexts.

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