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俨 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
yǎngrave, respectful; majesticv, 9 strokes, radical 亻, Very Hard
yǎndignifiedunknown, 9 strokes, radical 亻, Very Hard
yǎn(yan3) T3
  1. 1grave, respectful; majestic
  2. 2dignified
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(儼)yǎn(yan3)

The character 俨 (yǎn) conveys a sense of grandeur and dignity, often associated with a formal or solemn demeanor. It is commonly used to describe someone who carries themselves with respect and majesty, such as a leader or a respected elder. This word can also imply a presence that commands attention and admiration.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese society, a dignified demeanor was highly valued, especially among leaders and scholars. The concept of 俨 reflects the cultural emphasis on respect and proper conduct, which is often exhibited during ceremonies and formal gatherings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a majestic figure standing tall, dressed in traditional robes, exuding an air of dignity. The character 俨 contains the radical for 'person' (亻), suggesting that it describes a person who embodies respect and seriousness, making it easier to remember both its form and meaning.

Meanings of 俨

yǎn(yan3)
1grave, respectful; majestic
2dignified
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 俨

Simplified
Traditional
9Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 俨

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 俨

Quick Contrast

严 (yán) - use 俨 (yǎn) when referring to a dignified demeanor, while 严 (yán) emphasizes strictness or severity.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a majestic figure standing tall, dressed in traditional robes, exuding an air of dignity. The character 俨 contains the radical for 'person' (亻), suggesting that it describes a person who embodies respect and seriousness, making it easier to remember both its form and meaning.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 俨 with similar sounding characters that have different meanings. It is typically used in formal contexts, so it might not be suitable for casual conversation. Common collocations include phrases that discuss leadership or respect, such as 俨然 (yǎnrán), meaning 'dignified' or 'serious'.

HSK Study Tips

Although 俨 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, learners at higher levels, particularly HSK 5 or 6, should take note of its use in literature and formal settings. Focus on recognizing its usage in written texts and practice using it in formal speech.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese society, a dignified demeanor was highly valued, especially among leaders and scholars. The concept of 俨 reflects the cultural emphasis on respect and proper conduct, which is often exhibited during ceremonies and formal gatherings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 俨 with similar-sounding characters like 颜 (yán), which means 'face' or 'appearance', leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '他是一个俨' instead of '他是一个莊严的人' (Tā shì yī gè zhuāngyán de rén) to convey 'He is a solemn person' is a common mistake.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 俨

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Etymology of 俨

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 严 represents the sound. Simplified form of 儼.

Memory Hint

person

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 俨?

Decomposition of 俨

IDS Structure⿰亻严
Full Character
=
ren2
left
Yan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 俨?

Write 俨

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 俨

俨 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

她总是魅力四射,看上去____然一位明星。

She was always glam. She looked like a star.

Example Sentences for 俨 (1)

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1
她总是魅力四射,看上去俨然一位明星。

tā zǒng shì mèi lì sì shè, , kàn shàng qù yǎn rán yī wèi míng。

She was always glam. She looked like a star.

Cultural Notes for 俨

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese society, a dignified demeanor was highly valued, especially among leaders and scholars. The concept of 俨 reflects the cultural emphasis on respect and proper conduct, which is often exhibited during ceremonies and formal gatherings.

Word Family of 俨

Words Containing This Character2
俨然just like儼然
yǎnmajestic
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 俨然 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 俨

You can say '他俨然是一位领导者' (Tā yǎnrán shì yī wèi lǐngdǎo zhě), meaning 'He is clearly a leader.'