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儼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
儼yǎngrave, respectful; majesticx, 22 strokes, radical 亻
yǎn(yan3)yan T3
  1. 1grave, respectful; majestic
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March 24, 2026

儼yǎn(yan3)

The character 儼 (yǎn) conveys a sense of solemnity and respect. It is often used to describe something that is grave or majestic, suggesting a dignified presence or attitude. This character can be applied in formal contexts, such as literature or speeches, to convey seriousness.

Strokes22Radical亻
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of respect is deeply ingrained, especially in familial and authoritative relationships. The character 儼 reflects this cultural value, often used in contexts like funerals or formal ceremonies to denote dignity.

Memory tip

Imagine a grand and noble figure standing upright and still, embodying respect and majesty. The character 儼 resembles a person (亻) standing tall, with the element '言' suggesting that their words carry weight and seriousness.

Meanings of 儼

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

By ear

Play it, then pick what 儼 means.

About 儼

儼Simplified
22Strokes
亻Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 儼

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Podcast: 儼

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AI study notes for 儼

Quick Contrast

严 (yán) - use 儼 for a sense of majesty or dignity, while 严 conveys strictness or severity.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 儼 with similar-sounding characters, so it's essential to practice its pronunciation and tonal variation. It is more commonly used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include phrases related to respect and dignity.

HSK Study Tips

Although 儼 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it relates to words in higher levels that convey respect or solemnity, such as 尊重 (zūnzhòng, respect) or 严肃 (yánsù, solemn). Focus on understanding its usage in literature and formal speech settings.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 儼 with the character 严 (yán), which means strict or severe. For example, saying '他是一个儼的老师' (He is a grave teacher) is incorrect; the correct word should be 严.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 儼

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Etymology of 儼

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

Origin

儼 = 亻 + 嚴. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 儼

IDS Structure⿰亻嚴
儼Full character
=
亻ren2
left
嚴yan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 儼?

How to say grave, respectful; majestic in Chinese

“grave, respectful; majestic” in Chinese is儼yǎn

The character 儼 (yǎn) conveys a sense of solemnity and respect. It is often used to describe something that is grave or majestic, suggesting a dignified presence or attitude. This character can be applied in formal contexts, such as literature or speeches, to convey seriousness.

When to use 儼

Learners often confuse 儼 with similar-sounding characters, so it's essential to practice its pronunciation and tonal variation. It is more commonly used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include phrases related to respect and dignity.

儼 or something close to it

严 (yán) - use 儼 for a sense of majesty or dignity, while 严 conveys strictness or severity.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 儼 with the character 严 (yán), which means strict or severe. For example, saying '他是一个儼的老师' (He is a grave teacher) is incorrect; the correct word should be 严.

Write 儼

儼

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

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Word Family of 儼

Words containing this character2
俨然just like儼然
俨yǎnmajestic儼
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 儼

What does 俨然 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 儼

The pronunciation is 'yǎn', with a falling-rising tone. Practice saying it slowly to ensure you capture the tone.

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