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黔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
黔
qián
black; the Guizhou province
j, 16 strokes, radical 黑
黔
qián
abbr. for Guizhou province 貴州|贵州[Gui4 zhou1]
unknown, 16 strokes, radical 黑
qián(Qian2)qian T2
1black; the Guizhou province
2abbr. for Guizhou province 貴州|贵州[Gui4 zhou1]
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March 24, 2026
黔qián(Qian2)
The character 黔 (qián) primarily means 'black' and is often associated with the color's deeper, richer tones. It is also the abbreviation for Guizhou province in China, known for its mountainous terrain and cultural diversity. In this context, it carries geographical significance and can be used in discussions about regional identity.
Strokes16Radical黑
Cultural note
Guizhou, represented by 黔, is famous for its rich ethnic diversity and natural beauty, such as the Huangguoshu Waterfall. This character evokes a sense of pride and identity for many who hail from this province.
Memory tip
Imagine a dark black cloak (the meaning of 黔) worn by a wise sage from Guizhou. The cloak envelops him, symbolizing the depth of the province's culture, while the character's components suggest the color black, resembling shadows that hide secrets.
Meanings of 黔
qián(Qian2)
1black; the Guizhou province
2abbr. for Guizhou province 貴州|贵州[Gui4 zhou1]
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 黔 means.
About 黔
黔Simplified
16Strokes
黑Radical
简称abbreviation (abbr.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 黔
Podcast: 黔
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AI study notes for 黔
Usage Notes
When using 黔 to refer to Guizhou province, it is typically in formal or geographical contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with other characters for 'black,' such as 黑 (hēi), which is more general. Remember to use the correct tone, as the second syllable in 'qián' can be mispronounced.
HSK Study Tips
Although 黔 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful to learn in conjunction with other geographical terms. Students should focus on recognizing it in context, especially when discussing places or cultural aspects of Guizhou.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 黔 when they mean 黑 (hēi) for 'black' in everyday conversation. To correct this, remember that 黔 is more specific to the color's depth and is tied to cultural contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 黔
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 黔 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
黔 = 黑 + 今. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 黔
IDS Structure⿰黑今
黔Full character
=
黑Hei1
left
今jin1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 黔?
How to say black; the Guizhou province in Chinese
“black; the Guizhou province” in Chinese is黔qián
The character 黔 (qián) primarily means 'black' and is often associated with the color's deeper, richer tones. It is also the abbreviation for Guizhou province in China, known for its mountainous terrain and cultural diversity. In this context, it carries geographical significance and can be used in discussions about regional identity.
When to use 黔
When using 黔 to refer to Guizhou province, it is typically in formal or geographical contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with other characters for 'black,' such as 黑 (hēi), which is more general. Remember to use the correct tone, as the second syllable in 'qián' can be mispronounced.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 黔 when they mean 黑 (hēi) for 'black' in everyday conversation. To correct this, remember that 黔 is more specific to the color's depth and is tied to cultural contexts.
Write 黔
黔
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Practice writing 黔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 黔
黔 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 2
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
分三大方言: 湘西 、 ____东和川黔滇.
Three major dialects: western Hunan , eastern Guizhou , and Sichuan , Guizhou and Yunnan.
黔南州qiánnánzhōuQiannan, abbr. for Qiannan Buyei and Miao autonomous prefecture 黔南布依族苗族自治州, Guizhou, capital Duyun city 都勻市
黔西南州qiánxīnánzhōuQianxinan, abbr. for Qianxinan Buyei and Miao autonomous prefecture 黔西南布依族苗族自治州, Guizhou, capital Xing'yi city 興義市|兴义市
黔东南州qiándōngnánzhōuQiandongnan, abbr. for Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture 黔東南苗族侗族自治州|黔东南苗族侗族自治州, Guizhou, capital Kaili city 凱里市|凯里市黔東南州
黔江qiánjiāngQianjiang suburbs of Chongqing municipality
黔西qiánxīQianxi county in Bijie prefecture 畢節地區|毕节地区[Bìjiédìqū], Guizhou
黔西县qiánxīxiànQianxi county in Bijie prefecture 畢節地區|毕节地区[Bìjiédìqū], Guizhou黔西縣
湘黔xiāngqiánHunan-Guizhou
黔东南苗族侗族自治州qiándōngnánmiáozúdòngzúzìzhìzhōuQiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture in Guizhou, capital Kaili city 凱里市|凯里市黔東南苗族侗族自治州
黔江区qiánjiāngqūQianjiang suburban district of Chongqing municipality黔江區
黔南布依族苗族自治州qiánnánbùyīzúmiáozúzìzhìzhōuQiannan Buyei and Miao autonomous prefecture in Guizhou, capital Duyun city 都勻市
黔西南布依族苗族自治州qiánxīnánbùyīzúmiáozúzìzhìzhōuQianxinan Buyei and Miao autonomous prefecture in Guizhou, capital Xing'yi city 興義市|兴义市
黔阳qiányángQianyang former county, now merged in Huaihua county 懷化縣|怀化县[Huáihuàxiàn], Hunan黔陽
黔阳县qiányángxiànQianyang former county in Huaihua county 懷化縣|怀化县[Huáihuàxiàn], Hunan黔陽縣
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 黔
What does 黔驴技穷 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 黔
It also refers to Guizhou province in China.
It's more commonly used in formal or geographical discussions rather than in casual conversation.
It is pronounced as 'qián,' with a rising tone.
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