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March 24, 2026
骞(騫)qiān(qian1)
The character 骞 (qiān) primarily means to lift or raise something, often conveying a sense of elevation or soaring. In certain contexts, it can refer to flying or something that is defective, indicating a sense of imperfection. This character is used less frequently in everyday conversation but can appear in literary or poetic contexts.
Strokes13Radical马Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese poetry, the theme of soaring or flying often symbolizes freedom and aspiration, reflecting the deep cultural appreciation for nature and the skies. The character 骞 is sometimes used in classical literature to evoke these sentiments.
Memory Tip
Imagine a majestic eagle (representing 'to soar') lifting a heavy stone (representing 'to raise') high into the sky. The character 骞 resembles a bird in flight, with its wings spread wide, soaring above the clouds.
Meanings of 骞
qiān(qian1)
1to lift, to raise; to fly, to soar
2defective
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 骞
骞Simplified
騫Traditional
13Strokes
马Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 骞
Podcast: 骞
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AI Study Notes for 骞
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a majestic eagle (representing 'to soar') lifting a heavy stone (representing 'to raise') high into the sky. The character 骞 resembles a bird in flight, with its wings spread wide, soaring above the clouds.
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 骞, as it is more formal and may not be appropriate for everyday conversation. Common collocations include 骞翅 (to spread wings) and 骞飞 (to fly high). Mispronouncing the tone can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 骞 is not included in the HSK levels, it shares common roots with other characters related to movement and elevation, like 飞 (to fly) and 升 (to rise). Focus on recognizing its form and understanding its usage in literary texts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese poetry, the theme of soaring or flying often symbolizes freedom and aspiration, reflecting the deep cultural appreciation for nature and the skies. The character 骞 is sometimes used in classical literature to evoke these sentiments.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 骞 with similar characters like 迁 (to move) due to similar pronunciation. Remember that 骞 focuses on elevation and soaring, while 迁 relates to migration or relocation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 骞
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Cultural Notes for 骞
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese poetry, the theme of soaring or flying often symbolizes freedom and aspiration, reflecting the deep cultural appreciation for nature and the skies. The character 骞 is sometimes used in classical literature to evoke these sentiments.
Word Family of 骞
Words Containing This Character2
骞qiānraise騫
张骞Zhang Qian (-114 BC), Han dynasty explorer of 2nd century BC張騫
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 骞 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 骞
The correct pronunciation is qiān, with a high flat tone.
骞 is typically used in literary or formal contexts rather than in everyday conversation.
Yes, synonyms include 飞 (to fly) and 升 (to rise), but each carries slightly different nuances.
