Meanings of 勸
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 勸
Podcast: 勸
Podcast: 勸
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 勸
劝 (quàn) vs 建议 (jiànyì): Use 勸 (quàn) when emphasizing urging or exhortation, while 建议 (jiànyì) is more neutral and focuses on suggesting an idea.
Learners often confuse 勸 with 劝 (also 'quàn'), which is a simplified version used in mainland China. This character is typically used in more formal contexts, so be mindful of your audience when using it. Common collocations include 勸告 (quàn gào, to advise) and 勸酒 (quàn jiǔ, to urge someone to drink).
While 勸 is not explicitly listed in the HSK levels, it shares components with other characters related to speech and advice. Focus on the radicals and their implications in other words to build a stronger vocabulary foundation.
Learners may mistakenly use 勸 in casual conversations when a simpler term would suffice. For example, saying '我勸你去' (I recommend you go) in a casual setting may sound overly formal; instead, '我建议你去' (I suggest you go) would be more appropriate.
Pronunciation of 勸
Drill the tone of 勸 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 勸
power
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 勸
- 1The meaning half力 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half雚 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaypower
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 勸? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 勸?
Decomposition of 勸
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 勸?
How to say to recommend, to advise; to urge, to exhort in Chinese
“to recommend, to advise; to urge, to exhort” in Chinese is勸
The character 勸 (quàn) means to recommend or advise someone, often with a sense of urging or exhortation. It is commonly used in contexts where one person is trying to persuade another to take a certain action or consider a specific viewpoint.
When to use 勸
Learners often confuse 勸 with 劝 (also 'quàn'), which is a simplified version used in mainland China. This character is typically used in more formal contexts, so be mindful of your audience when using it. Common collocations include 勸告 (quàn gào, to advise) and 勸酒 (quàn jiǔ, to urge someone to drink).
勸 or something close to it
劝 (quàn) vs 建议 (jiànyì): Use 勸 (quàn) when emphasizing urging or exhortation, while 建议 (jiànyì) is more neutral and focuses on suggesting an idea.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistakenly use 勸 in casual conversations when a simpler term would suffice. For example, saying '我勸你去' (I recommend you go) in a casual setting may sound overly formal; instead, '我建议你去' (I suggest you go) would be more appropriate.
Write 勸
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 勸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 勸
Compound Meaning
What does 劝 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 勸
You can say '我勸你多喝水' (Wǒ quàn nǐ duō hē shuǐ) meaning 'I advise you to drink more water.'
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 勸?
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.