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姦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
jiāncrafty, dishonest, selfish; evil, villainous; adulteryzg, 9 strokes, radical 女, Very Hard
jiān(jian1) T1
  1. 1crafty, dishonest, selfish; evil, villainous; adultery
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
jiān(jian1)

The character 姦 (jiān) primarily refers to deceitful or villainous behavior, often associated with selfishness or dishonesty. It can also carry a more specific connotation related to adultery, making it a term often used in moral discussions within society. This word is generally used in formal contexts, especially in literature or discussions about ethics and morality.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 姦 is often tied to Confucian values, which emphasize virtue and fidelity in relationships. It is considered a serious moral failing and is sometimes referenced in historical texts discussing the consequences of infidelity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sneaky cat (姦) scheming to steal food, representing its crafty and dishonest nature. The character has a 'woman' radical (女) on the left, suggesting that the term can relate to relationships, further linking to its meaning of adultery.

Meanings of 姦

jiān(jian1)
1crafty, dishonest, selfish; evil, villainous; adultery
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 姦

Simplified
9Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 姦

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 姦

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a sneaky cat (姦) scheming to steal food, representing its crafty and dishonest nature. The character has a 'woman' radical (女) on the left, suggesting that the term can relate to relationships, further linking to its meaning of adultery.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 姦 (jiān) with similar-sounding characters like 监 (jiān, meaning to supervise). It's important to note that 姦 is usually used in formal or literary contexts rather than everyday conversations. Be cautious with its serious connotation when discussing personal relationships.

HSK Study Tips

Although 姦 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be related to other HSK words discussing morality and ethics. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in literary texts, which can enhance their understanding of Chinese moral discussions.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 姦 is often tied to Confucian values, which emphasize virtue and fidelity in relationships. It is considered a serious moral failing and is sometimes referenced in historical texts discussing the consequences of infidelity.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 姦 as 'jiān' when they mean to say '监' (jiān, to supervise). It's crucial to differentiate between the two, as their meanings and contexts are quite distinct.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 姦

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Etymology of 姦

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

Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 干 represents the sound. Simplified form of 姦.

Memory Hint

Someone who flirts with many women 女

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 姦?

Decomposition of 姦

IDS Structure⿱女⿰女女
Full Character
=
nü3
top
nü3
left
nü3
right
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 姦?

Write 姦

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 姦

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 姦 is often tied to Confucian values, which emphasize virtue and fidelity in relationships. It is considered a serious moral failing and is sometimes referenced in historical texts discussing the consequences of infidelity.

Word Family of 姦

Words Containing This Character20
强奸to rape強姦
jiānwicked
汉奸traitor (to China)漢奸
内奸undiscovered traitor內奸
强奸犯rapist強姦犯
通奸adultery通姦
奸商profiteer
奸情adultery姦情
鸡奸sodomy雞奸
强奸罪rape強姦罪
奸细a spy奸細
轮奸to gang rape輪姦
奸诈jiānzhàtreachery奸詐
捉奸to catch a couple in the act (adultery, illicit sexual relations)捉姦
奸淫fornication姦淫
奸笑evil smile
奸杀to rape and murder姦殺
奸臣a treacherous court official
狼狈为奸villains collude together (idiom); to work hand in glove with sb (to nefarious ends)狼狽為奸
奸夫male adulterer
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 强奸 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 姦

No, 姦 is typically used in formal or literary contexts, especially when discussing moral issues.