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勳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
xūndead, feat; merit, rankx, 16 strokes, radical 力, Very Hard
xūn(xun1) T1
  1. 1dead, feat; merit, rank
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March 24, 2026

xūn(xun1)

The character 勳 (xūn) refers to merit, achievement, or honor, often in the context of military or civil service. It can denote a rank or title that acknowledges someone's accomplishments. Commonly used in formal contexts, it emphasizes the recognition of significant contributions or feats.

Strokes16RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, receiving a 勳章 (medal of honor) is a significant recognition of one's service or contribution to society, particularly in military or public service contexts. This reflects the high value placed on merit and recognition in Chinese society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a soldier (the radical 勹) proudly displaying his medals (representing achievement) in a parade. The sound 'xūn' can be remembered as 'soon'—as in, 'Soon, he will be honored for his feats.' Visualize the medals shining in the sun, symbolizing his hard-earned merit.

Meanings of 勳

xūn(xun1)
1dead, feat; merit, rank
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 勳

Simplified
16Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 勳

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AI Study Notes for 勳

Quick Contrast

勋 (xūn, merit) vs 荣 (róng, honor) — use 勋 when specifically referring to achievements or military distinctions, while 荣 is broader, encompassing general honor.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a soldier (the radical 勹) proudly displaying his medals (representing achievement) in a parade. The sound 'xūn' can be remembered as 'soon'—as in, 'Soon, he will be honored for his feats.' Visualize the medals shining in the sun, symbolizing his hard-earned merit.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone, as 'xūn' must be pronounced in the first tone. This character is often used in formal contexts and may not be suitable for casual conversation. Collocations include 勳章 (xūnzhāng), meaning 'medal of honor.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 勳 is not on the HSK list, it connects with HSK vocabulary related to achievement and honor, such as 荣誉 (róngyù, honor) and 成就 (chéngjiù, achievement). Focus on recognizing this character in formal texts and military-related discussions.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, receiving a 勳章 (medal of honor) is a significant recognition of one's service or contribution to society, particularly in military or public service contexts. This reflects the high value placed on merit and recognition in Chinese society.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 勳 with similar characters like 勇 (yǒng, courage) due to their similar appearances. Remember that 勳 emphasizes merit and honor, whereas 勇 focuses on bravery.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 勳

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Etymology of 勳

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

Phonosemantic compound. 力 represents the meaning and 员 represents the sound. Simplified form of 勛.

Memory Hint

strength

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 勳?

Decomposition of 勳

IDS Structure⿰熏力
Full Character
=
xun1
left
Li4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 勳?

Write 勳

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

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Cultural Notes for 勳

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, receiving a 勳章 (medal of honor) is a significant recognition of one's service or contribution to society, particularly in military or public service contexts. This reflects the high value placed on merit and recognition in Chinese society.

Word Family of 勳

Words Containing This Character7
勋章xūnzhāngmedal勛章
勋爵UK life peer勳爵
xūnmedal
功勋achievement功勛
授勋to award an honor授勛
元勋leading light元勛
开国元勋founding father開國元勛
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 勋章 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 勳

勳 is typically not used in casual conversation but may appear in formal discussions about achievements or honors.