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伤痕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
伤痕shānghénscarHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #5643, Very Hard
伤痕shānghénbruiseHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #5643, Very Hard
shānghén(shang1hen2)shang hen T1
  1. 1scar
  2. 2bruise
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March 24, 2026

伤痕(傷痕)shānghén(shang1hen2)

伤痕 refers to a scar or bruise, indicating a mark left on the skin after an injury has healed. It can be used both literally, to describe physical scars, and metaphorically, to refer to emotional wounds or lasting impacts from difficult experiences.

Strokes17Frequency#5643DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of scars can symbolize resilience and the stories behind them, reflecting how personal struggles shape one's identity. Many Chinese sayings highlight the importance of overcoming hardship, making 伤痕 a significant term in discussing life experiences.

Memory tip

Think of 伤 (shang1), which means 'to injure,' combined with 痕 (hen2), which means 'mark.' Imagine an injury that leaves a lasting mark or scar, helping you remember the pronunciation and meaning as 'injury mark.'

Meanings of 伤痕

shānghén(shang1hen2)
1scar
2bruise
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About 伤痕

伤痕Simplified
傷痕Traditional
17Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 伤痕

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AI study notes for 伤痕

Quick Contrast

瘢痕 (bānhén) — use 伤痕 for marks from recent injuries, and 瘢痕 for older, more permanent scars.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context when using 伤痕; it can imply both physical and emotional scars. It is often used in informal settings, but can also appear in literature. A common mistake is to confuse it with 伤害 (shang1 hai4), which means 'to harm,' but 伤痕 specifically refers to the mark left behind.

HSK Study Tips

While 伤痕 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it shares components with other HSK words related to injury and health. Focus on the radicals 伤 (injure) and 痕 (mark) to connect it to related vocabulary about health and physical states.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 伤痕 with 伤害 (shang1 hai4); remember that 伤痕 is specifically about the mark left behind, not the act of injury. For example, saying '我有伤害在手上' (I have harm on my hand) is incorrect; it should be '我手上有伤痕' (I have a scar on my hand).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 伤痕

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Component characters

伤shāngto injure
HSK 56 strokes亻
View full entry
痕hénscar
HSK 711 strokes疒
View full entry

How to say scar in Chinese

“scar” in Chinese is伤痕shānghén

伤痕 refers to a scar or bruise, indicating a mark left on the skin after an injury has healed. It can be used both literally, to describe physical scars, and metaphorically, to refer to emotional wounds or lasting impacts from difficult experiences.

When to use 伤痕

Be mindful of the context when using 伤痕; it can imply both physical and emotional scars. It is often used in informal settings, but can also appear in literature. A common mistake is to confuse it with 伤害 (shang1 hai4), which means 'to harm,' but 伤痕 specifically refers to the mark left behind.

伤痕 or something close to it

瘢痕 (bānhén) — use 伤痕 for marks from recent injuries, and 瘢痕 for older, more permanent scars.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 伤痕 with 伤害 (shang1 hai4); remember that 伤痕 is specifically about the mark left behind, not the act of injury. For example, saying '我有伤害在手上' (I have harm on my hand) is incorrect; it should be '我手上有伤痕' (I have a scar on my hand).

Write 伤痕

伤
痕

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

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Common confusions with 伤痕

伤痕vs伤
shāng

Similar pronunciation but different meaning.

伤痕vs痕
hén

Similar pronunciation but different meaning.

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Frequently asked questions about 伤痕

伤痕 (shānghén) and 疤痕 (bāhén) both refer to marks on the skin but differ in context. 伤痕 usually refers to bruises or scars from recent injuries, while 疤痕 specifically refers to scars that have formed after the healing process. Knowing this distinction can help in more precise communication.

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