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姘 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
pīnmistress, lover; an affairn, 9 strokes, radical 女, Very Hard
pīnto be a mistress or loverunknown, 9 strokes, radical 女, Very Hard
pīn(pin1) T1
  1. 1mistress, lover; an affair
  2. 2to be a mistress or lover
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March 24, 2026

pīn(pin1)

The character 姘 (pīn) refers to a mistress or lover, often in the context of an extramarital affair. It can carry a negative connotation, implying secrecy or infidelity. This term is typically used in more formal or literary contexts rather than everyday conversation.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of having a mistress has historical roots and is often discussed in the context of traditional family structures and male-dominated societies. The existence of mistresses has been a topic in literature and media, reflecting societal attitudes towards love and fidelity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a woman (女) who is secretly meeting her lover (心) in a hidden place. The character 姘 (pīn) combines the woman radical (女) with the concept of intimacy (心), symbolizing a hidden relationship that requires stealth.

Meanings of 姘

pīn(pin1)
1mistress, lover; an affair
2to be a mistress or lover
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 姘

Simplified
9Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 姘

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AI Study Notes for 姘

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a woman (女) who is secretly meeting her lover (心) in a hidden place. The character 姘 (pīn) combines the woman radical (女) with the concept of intimacy (心), symbolizing a hidden relationship that requires stealth.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the register when using 姘, as it can sound formal or accusatory. Common collocations include phrases related to infidelity or romance. A common mistake is to confuse it with the more general term for 'lover', 情人 (qíngrén), which has a more neutral tone.

HSK Study Tips

While 姘 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of literary texts and discussions about relationships. Students should focus on the nuances of romantic vocabulary and the implications behind terms related to love and infidelity.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of having a mistress has historical roots and is often discussed in the context of traditional family structures and male-dominated societies. The existence of mistresses has been a topic in literature and media, reflecting societal attitudes towards love and fidelity.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 姘 (pīn) with the more neutral term for 'lover', 情人 (qíngrén). For example, saying '我有一个姘' (I have a mistress) might be incorrect in contexts where a neutral term is intended; it would be better to say '我有一个情人'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 姘

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Etymology of 姘

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

An affair 并 with a woman 女; 并 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 姘?

Decomposition of 姘

IDS Structure⿰女并
Full Character
=
nü3
left
bing4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 姘?

Write 姘

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 姘

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of having a mistress has historical roots and is often discussed in the context of traditional family structures and male-dominated societies. The existence of mistresses has been a topic in literature and media, reflecting societal attitudes towards love and fidelity.

Word Family of 姘

Words Containing This Character5
姘头lover姘頭
pīnto be a mistress or lover
姘妇mistress姘婦
姘居to cohabit with a lover illicitly
姘夫paramour
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 姘头 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 姘

No, 姘 is more commonly used in literary contexts and discussions about relationships, rather than in everyday conversation.