Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
㬎xiǎn(xian3)
The character 㬎 (xiǎn) refers to small particles or motes that are visible in a beam of sunlight, emphasizing illumination and clarity. It can also denote something that is illustrious or apparent, often used in a literary or poetic context. This character is an older variant of the more commonly used 顯 (xiǎn), which shares similar meanings of visibility and prominence.
Strokes14Radical日Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese literature, light and visibility often symbolize knowledge and enlightenment. The imagery of motes in sunlight can represent clarity of thought or spiritual illumination, which is a recurring theme in poetic writings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a bright beam of sunlight filtering through a dusty room, revealing tiny motes dancing in the air. The character 㬎, with its components, can be visualized as a sunbeam (the top part) shining down on the motes (the lower part), making them 'illustrious' and 'visible'. The pronunciation 'xiǎn' can be remembered by associating it with 'shine' as both concepts relate to brightness.
Meanings of 㬎
xiǎn(xian3)
1motes in a sunbeam; illustrious, bright
2visible
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 㬎
㬎Simplified
14Strokes
日Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 㬎
Podcast: 㬎
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 㬎
Quick Contrast
显 (xiǎn) - use 㬎 (xiǎn) for a more literary or poetic nuance, while 显 (xiǎn) is more commonly used in everyday language.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a bright beam of sunlight filtering through a dusty room, revealing tiny motes dancing in the air. The character 㬎, with its components, can be visualized as a sunbeam (the top part) shining down on the motes (the lower part), making them 'illustrious' and 'visible'. The pronunciation 'xiǎn' can be remembered by associating it with 'shine' as both concepts relate to brightness.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 㬎 with its modern variant 顯, which is more widely used in everyday language. It is important to use 㬎 in more formal or literary contexts rather than casual conversation. Be cautious of the tone – 'xiǎn' is pronounced with a third tone, which can change the meaning if mispronounced.
HSK Study Tips
As this character is not included in the HSK level vocabulary, focus on understanding its connection to the more common 顯 (xiǎn). This will help you recognize the character in texts but prioritize learning usable vocabulary first. Consider practicing by reading literary texts where such characters might appear.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese literature, light and visibility often symbolize knowledge and enlightenment. The imagery of motes in sunlight can represent clarity of thought or spiritual illumination, which is a recurring theme in poetic writings.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 㬎 in casual conversations where 顯 should be used, leading to confusion. For instance, saying '我觉得这个事情很㬎' instead of '我觉得这个事情很显' would sound awkward.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 㬎
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 㬎 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 㬎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 㬎
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese literature, light and visibility often symbolize knowledge and enlightenment. The imagery of motes in sunlight can represent clarity of thought or spiritual illumination, which is a recurring theme in poetic writings.
Frequently Asked Questions about 㬎
㬎 is an older variant with similar meanings to 顯, but is less commonly used in modern language.
You can associate 'xiǎn' with 'shine' to help remember that it relates to brightness and visibility.
Use 㬎 in more formal or literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation.