HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #4444, Very Hard
喘
chuǎn
to pant
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #4444, Very Hard
喘
chuǎn
asthma
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #4444, Very Hard
喘
chuǎn
to pant, to gasp, to breathe heavily
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #4444, Very Hard
chuǎn(chuan3) T3
1to gasp
2to pant
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
喘chuǎn(chuan3)
The character 喘 (chuǎn) refers to the act of gasping or panting, often due to physical exertion or respiratory distress. It can be used in medical contexts, such as describing asthma, and is commonly used to convey the struggle of breathing heavily after exercise or during illness.
Strokes12Radical口Frequency#4444DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, breathing techniques are vital for health, and understanding the concept of 喘 is important for discussing respiratory issues. It reflects the cultural emphasis on holistic health and wellness.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person running up a steep hill, gasping for breath at the top. The sound of their breathing is like 'chuǎn', where the 'ch' sound echoes their struggle. The character itself has the mouth radical '口', symbolizing the act of breathing.
Meanings of 喘
chuǎn(chuan3)
1to gasp
2to pant
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 喘
喘Simplified
12Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4444Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 喘
Podcast: 喘
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
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AI Study Notes for 喘
Quick Contrast
喘 (chuǎn) vs 气喘 (qìchuǎn) — use 喘 (chuǎn) for the act of gasping, while 气喘 (qìchuǎn) specifically refers to asthma or wheezing.
Usage Notes
When using 喘, be mindful of its connotation; it often implies a sense of urgency or distress. It is generally used in informal contexts and can collocate with words for physical activities or health issues, such as '喘不过气来' (to be out of breath). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words like '传' (to transmit).
HSK Study Tips
As this character is not specifically included in HSK levels, focus on its practical usage in describing physical conditions. It connects with other verbs related to breathing and health, such as '呼吸' (hūxī - to breathe), which students should also practice.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 喘 with '传' (to transmit) due to similar sounds. For instance, saying '我喘电话' (I gasp a phone) instead of '我喘气' (I gasp). Correctly using '喘' in the context of breathing is essential.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 喘
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Drill the tone of 喘 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 耑 represents the sound.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half耑 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymouth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 喘? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 喘?
Decomposition of 喘
IDS Structure⿰口耑
喘Full Character
=
口kou3
left
耑duan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 喘?
How to say to gasp in Chinese
“to gasp” in Chinese is喘chuǎn
The character 喘 (chuǎn) refers to the act of gasping or panting, often due to physical exertion or respiratory distress. It can be used in medical contexts, such as describing asthma, and is commonly used to convey the struggle of breathing heavily after exercise or during illness.
When to use 喘
When using 喘, be mindful of its connotation; it often implies a sense of urgency or distress. It is generally used in informal contexts and can collocate with words for physical activities or health issues, such as '喘不过气来' (to be out of breath). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words like '传' (to transmit).
喘 or something close to it
喘 (chuǎn) vs 气喘 (qìchuǎn) — use 喘 (chuǎn) for the act of gasping, while 气喘 (qìchuǎn) specifically refers to asthma or wheezing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 喘 with '传' (to transmit) due to similar sounds. For instance, saying '我喘电话' (I gasp a phone) instead of '我喘气' (I gasp). Correctly using '喘' in the context of breathing is essential.
Write 喘
喘
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Practice writing 喘 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 喘
喘 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 4 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 4
Complete the Sentence
对猫类过敏是哮____病发作最常见的诱因之一。
Allergy to cats is one of the commonest causes of asthma.
