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删 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
删
shān
to delete
HSK 5, v, 7 strokes, radical 刂, rank #6376, Hard
删
shān
to delete; to cut; to censor
HSK 5, v, 7 strokes, radical 刂, rank #6376, Hard
shān(shan1)shan T1
1to delete
2to delete; to cut; to censor
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March 24, 2026
删(刪)shān(shan1)
The character 删 (shān) means 'to delete' or 'to cut.' It is commonly used in the context of removing text, files, or information, and can also refer to censorship in media. Its usage is prevalent in technology and media discussions.
Strokes7Radical刂Frequency#6376DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In China, the concept of censorship is prevalent, especially in media and online content. The practice of 删 is part of larger discussions around freedom of expression and information control in Chinese society.
Memory tip
Imagine a sharp knife (the radical 刀) cutting through a document, removing unwanted sections. The sound 'shān' can be remembered by picturing a 'shank' of a knife that is used to delete parts of the paper.
Meanings of 删
shān(shan1)
1to delete
2to delete; to cut; to censor
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 删 means.
About 删
删Simplified
刪Traditional
7Strokes
刂Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#6376Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 删
Podcast: 删
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AI study notes for 删
Quick Contrast
删除 (shānchú) vs 删去 (shānqù) — use 删除 for formal deletion contexts, while 删去 is more casual.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 删 with 取消 (qǔxiāo), which also means 'to cancel.' 删 is generally more direct and often used in relation to text or files. It is more informal and common in everyday conversations, while 取消 may be more formal.
HSK Study Tips
刪 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but it connects well with other verbs related to actions, such as 删除 (shānchú - to remove). Focus on recognizing this character in contexts related to technology and digital media.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes misuse 删 in place of 删除, leading to sentences like '我想删这张照片' (Wǒ xiǎng shān zhè zhāng zhàopiàn), which may sound awkward in formal contexts. It's better to use 删除 for clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 删
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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.
The character 删 (shān) means 'to delete' or 'to cut.' It is commonly used in the context of removing text, files, or information, and can also refer to censorship in media. Its usage is prevalent in technology and media discussions.
When to use 删
Learners often confuse 删 with 取消 (qǔxiāo), which also means 'to cancel.' 删 is generally more direct and often used in relation to text or files. It is more informal and common in everyday conversations, while 取消 may be more formal.
删 or something close to it
删除 (shānchú) vs 删去 (shānqù) — use 删除 for formal deletion contexts, while 删去 is more casual.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes misuse 删 in place of 删除, leading to sentences like '我想删这张照片' (Wǒ xiǎng shān zhè zhāng zhàopiàn), which may sound awkward in formal contexts. It's better to use 删除 for clarity.
Write 删
删
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Practice writing 删 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 删
删 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
“把她从你的遗嘱中____去，”他的侄子催促道。
"Cut her out of your will," urged his nephew.
Example sentences for 删 (10)
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1
“把她从你的遗嘱中删去，”他的侄子催促道。
“ bǎ tā cóng nǐ de yízhǔ zhōng shān qù，” tā de zhízi cuīcù dào。
"Cut her out of your will," urged his nephew.
2
这本书因含有需要删除的问题章节而被撤回。
zhè běn shū yīn hányǒu xūyào shānchú de wèntí zhāng jié ér bèi chèhuí。
The book was withdrawn for the offending passages to be deleted.
3
这包括删除很大一部分不相关的内容。
zhè bāokuò shānchú hěn dà yībùfen bù xiāngguān de nèiróng。
This involved the deletion of a great deal of irrelevant material.
4
她再次删掉了那句台词。
tā zàicì shān diào le nà jù tái cí。
She edited that line out again.
5
电视公司往往会在审查故事片时删去其中的粗话。
diànshì gōngsī wǎngwǎng huì zài shěnchá gùshi piàn shí shān qù qízhōng de cū huà。
Television companies tend to censor bad language in feature films.
6
编辑们想让她把这首诗从她的小说中删去。
biānjí men xiǎng ràng tā bǎ zhè shǒu shī cóng tā de xiǎoshuō zhōng shān qù。
Her editors wanted her to cut out the poetry from her novel.
