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噙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
噙qínto bite; to hold in the mouthv, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #63446, Very Hard
噙qínto hold in (usually refers the mouth or eyes)unknown, 15 strokes, radical 口, rank #63446, Very Hard
qín(qin2)qin T2
  1. 1to bite; to hold in the mouth
  2. 2to hold in (usually refers the mouth or eyes)
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March 24, 2026

噙qín(qin2)

The character 噙 (qín) primarily means to hold something in the mouth, often used in the context of holding food or drink without chewing. It can also refer to holding back tears or emotions, giving it a nuanced meaning of restraint or control. It is commonly used in literary contexts or poetic expressions.

Strokes15Radical口Frequency#63446DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese poetry, the act of 噙 can symbolize emotional control, often reflecting the values of restraint and inner strength, which are significant in traditional Chinese culture. This character often appears in literary works that explore deep emotions.

Memory tip

Imagine a person with a smile holding a piece of candy in their mouth, represented by 噙. The top part resembles a mouth, while the lower part suggests something being held inside, reminding you of the pronunciation 'qín' as in 'keen' to hold onto something sweet.

Meanings of 噙

qín(qin2)
1to bite; to hold in the mouth
2to hold in (usually refers the mouth or eyes)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 噙

噙Simplified
15Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 噙

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AI study notes for 噙

Quick Contrast

含 (hán) — use 噙 when emphasizing holding something in the mouth without chewing; use 含 when referring to containing or including something more generally.

Usage Notes

Avoid confusing 噙 with similar sounding characters; it should be used in contexts involving holding or restraining. It is more formal and literary, so it might not be appropriate in casual conversations. Common collocations include 噙着泪 (holding back tears) or 噙着食物 (holding food in the mouth).

HSK Study Tips

Although 噙 is not on the official HSK list, it connects well with verbs expressing physical actions or states, such as 吃 (chī - to eat) or 咬 (yǎo - to bite). Focus on its unique usage in literary contexts to expand your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 噙 with other characters like 含 (hán - to contain), leading to incorrect phrases such as 噙着水 (holding water) instead of 含着水 (containing water). Always check the context to ensure proper usage.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 噙

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Etymology of 噙

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)口
+
Phonetic (sound)禽
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

噙 = 口 + 禽. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 噙

IDS Structure⿰口禽
噙Full character
=
口kou3
left
禽qin2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 噙?

How to say to bite; to hold in the mouth in Chinese

“to bite; to hold in the mouth” in Chinese is噙qín

The character 噙 (qín) primarily means to hold something in the mouth, often used in the context of holding food or drink without chewing. It can also refer to holding back tears or emotions, giving it a nuanced meaning of restraint or control. It is commonly used in literary contexts or poetic expressions.

When to use 噙

Avoid confusing 噙 with similar sounding characters; it should be used in contexts involving holding or restraining. It is more formal and literary, so it might not be appropriate in casual conversations. Common collocations include 噙着泪 (holding back tears) or 噙着食物 (holding food in the mouth).

噙 or something close to it

含 (hán) — use 噙 when emphasizing holding something in the mouth without chewing; use 含 when referring to containing or including something more generally.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 噙 with other characters like 含 (hán - to contain), leading to incorrect phrases such as 噙着水 (holding water) instead of 含着水 (containing water). Always check the context to ensure proper usage.

Write 噙

噙

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

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Grammar patterns of 噙

噙 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 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

迈克尔哀求地看着他,眼里____着泪水。

Michael looked at him imploringly, eyes brimming with tears.

Example sentences for 噙 (3)

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1
迈克尔哀求地看着他,眼里噙着泪水。

mài kè ěr āiqiú dì kàn zhe tā, yǎnlǐ qín zhe lèishuǐ。

Michael looked at him imploringly, eyes brimming with tears.
2
她双眼噙满泪水。

tā shuāng yǎn qín mǎn lèishuǐ。

Her eyes filled with tears.
3
她终于抬起头来, 虽然眼里仍然饱噙着泪水, 却不能再掩饰了.

tā zhōngyú tái qǐ tóu lái, suīrán yǎnlǐ réngrán bǎo qín zhe lèishuǐ, què bù néng zài yǎnshì le.

She looked up at last, and though her eyes still shone with tears, no more escaped.

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Word Family of 噙

Words containing this character1
噙qínto hold in (usually refers the mouth or eyes)

Frequently asked questions about 噙

It is pronounced 'qín', with a rising tone, similar to the English word 'keen'.

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