Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
冁 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
冁chǎnsmilex, 18 strokes, radical 丷
冁chǎnsmilinglyunknown, 18 strokes, radical 丷
chǎn(chan3)chan T3
  1. 1smile
  2. 2smilingly
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

冁(囅)chǎn(chan3)

The character 冁 (chǎn) refers to the act of smiling or expressing joy through a smile. It is often used in literary contexts to convey a sense of happiness or contentment, typically associated with a gentle or serene demeanor.

Strokes18Radical丷
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese poetry, a smile is often associated with inner peace and tranquility, reflecting the cultural value of harmony in one's emotions. The character 冁 can evoke images of serene landscapes where one might smile contentedly.

Memory tip

Imagine a cheerful child smiling widely, so happy that their cheeks are puffed out like a round balloon. The character 冁 looks like a smiling face with the top part resembling a head and the bottom part suggesting a wide smile, helping you remember both its sound and meaning.

Meanings of 冁

chǎn(chan3)
1smile
2smilingly
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 冁 means.

About 冁

冁Simplified
囅Traditional
18Strokes
丷Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 冁

JasonAmy

Podcast: 冁

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 冁

Usage Notes

While 冁 is a less common word, it can be used in both formal and informal contexts to describe a smile. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters that relate to different emotions or expressions, such as 笑 (xiào), which means 'to laugh.'

HSK Study Tips

This character is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but it can be useful for advanced learners looking to expand their literary vocabulary. Focus on using it in context with other emotional expressions to enhance your understanding of nuances in Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 冁 interchangeably with 笑, leading to confusion about the intensity of the expression. For example, saying '我冁' (I smile) instead of '我笑' (I laugh) when intending to express a more animated reaction is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 冁

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 冁, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 冁 to you

Let me explain 冁 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 冁 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How well do you know 冁?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 冁 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 冁

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

When an individual 单 opens up 展; 展 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 冁?

Decomposition of 冁

IDS Structure⿰单展
冁Full character
=
单dan1
left
展Zhan3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 冁?

How to say smile in Chinese

“smile” in Chinese is冁chǎn

The character 冁 (chǎn) refers to the act of smiling or expressing joy through a smile. It is often used in literary contexts to convey a sense of happiness or contentment, typically associated with a gentle or serene demeanor.

When to use 冁

While 冁 is a less common word, it can be used in both formal and informal contexts to describe a smile. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters that relate to different emotions or expressions, such as 笑 (xiào), which means 'to laugh.'

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 冁 interchangeably with 笑, leading to confusion about the intensity of the expression. For example, saying '我冁' (I smile) instead of '我笑' (I laugh) when intending to express a more animated reaction is incorrect.

Write 冁

冁

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 冁?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 冁

Words containing this character1
冁chǎnsmilingly囅

Frequently asked questions about 冁

You can say '他微微冁笑,' meaning 'He smiled slightly,' to illustrate a gentle smile.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 冁?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab