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March 24, 2026
鹽yán(yan2)
The character 鹽 (yán) means 'salt' in Mandarin. It is a vital mineral used in cooking and food preservation, commonly found in various cuisines. Beyond its culinary uses, it also carries cultural significance in traditional medicine and rituals.
Strokes24Radical鹵Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, salt is often associated with health and longevity, and it is used in traditional rituals, such as during weddings and festivals, symbolizing purity and preservation.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chef holding a large salt shaker, with the character 鹽 shaped like the shaker itself. The radical '氵' (water) suggests its connection to food and flavor, while the '鹽' resembles the sound of 'yán,' which can remind you of the word 'yummy' when food is well-seasoned.
Meanings of 鹽
yán(yan2)
1salt
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 鹽
鹽Simplified
24Strokes
鹵Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鹽
Podcast: 鹽
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AI Study Notes for 鹽
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a chef holding a large salt shaker, with the character 鹽 shaped like the shaker itself. The radical '氵' (water) suggests its connection to food and flavor, while the '鹽' resembles the sound of 'yán,' which can remind you of the word 'yummy' when food is well-seasoned.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is using 鹽 in contexts where 'seasoning' might be more appropriate. The word is generally informal, but can also appear in more formal culinary discussions. Be careful with the fourth tone (yán) to avoid confusion with other words.
HSK Study Tips
While 鹽 is not included in the official HSK levels, it is relevant for HSK 2 or 3 students learning about food-related vocabulary. Focus on its pronunciation and usage in cooking-related contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, salt is often associated with health and longevity, and it is used in traditional rituals, such as during weddings and festivals, symbolizing purity and preservation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 鹽 with 醬 (jiàng, sauce), as both are related to flavoring food. Remember, 鹽 specifically refers to salt, whereas 醬 refers to sauces or condiments.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鹽
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Cultural Notes for 鹽
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, salt is often associated with health and longevity, and it is used in traditional rituals, such as during weddings and festivals, symbolizing purity and preservation.
Word Family of 鹽
Words Containing This Character20
盐yánsalt鹽
盐水Yanshui town in Tainan county 台南縣|台南县[Táinánxiàn], Taiwan鹽水
盐湖城Salt Lake City, capital of Utah鹽湖城
盐酸hydrochloric acid HCl鹽酸
食盐edible salt食鹽
生理盐水saline (medicine)生理鹽水
硝酸盐nitrate硝酸鹽
盐城Yancheng prefecture level city in Jiangsu鹽城
盐湖salt lake鹽湖
硅酸盐silicate硅酸鹽
盐巴table salt鹽巴
磷酸盐phosphate磷酸鹽
硫酸盐sulfate硫酸鹽
盐碱saline and alkaline (earth)鹽鹼
柴米油盐lit. firewood, rice, oil and salt柴米油鹽
盐田Yantian district of Shenzhen City 深圳市, Guangdong鹽田
海盐Haiyan county in Jiaxing 嘉興|嘉兴[Jiāxīng], Zhejiang海鹽
盐碱地saline soil鹽鹼地
岩盐rock salt岩鹽
碳酸盐carbonate salt (chemistry)碳酸鹽
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 盐 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鹽
You can use it in sentences like '我需要买一些盐' (I need to buy some salt).
Yes, 鹽 can appear in phrases related to flavor or seasoning, such as '盐巴' (yán bā) meaning 'salt' in a more casual sense.
Yes, another term for salt commonly used is '盐分' (yán fèn), which refers to the salt content.
