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岘 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
岘xiànsteep hill; a mountain in Hubeins, 7 strokes, radical 山
岘xiànMt Xianshou in Hubeiunknown, 7 strokes, radical 山
岘xiànabbr. for 峴首山|岘首山[Xian4 shou3 shan1]unknown, 7 strokes, radical 山
岘xiànused in place namesunknown, 7 strokes, radical 山
xiàn(xian4) T4
  1. 1steep hill; a mountain in Hubei
  2. 2Mt Xianshou in Hubei
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

岘(峴)xiàn(xian4)

The character 岘 (xiàn) primarily refers to a steep hill or mountain, often used in geographical contexts, particularly in place names. It is also an abbreviation for specific mountains, such as Mt. Xianshou in Hubei province. The term evokes imagery of rugged landscapes and elevations, making it relevant for discussing geography and natural features.

Strokes7Radical山
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, mountains often symbolize strength and endurance, and 岘 as a steep hill may signify challenges that one must overcome. Local mountains like Mt. Xianshou can also be tied to regional folklore and natural beauty.

Memory Tip

Imagine a steep hill (the meaning of 岘) with a 'xi' (sounds like 'she') climbing it. The left part 岡 looks like a hill, while the right part represents 'steepness' in its design. Visualize someone struggling to climb this steep hill, creating a vivid image to remember the word 'xiàn'.

Meanings of 岘

xiàn(xian4)
1steep hill; a mountain in Hubei
2Mt Xianshou in Hubei
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 岘

岘Simplified
峴Traditional
7Strokes
山Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 岘

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Podcast: 岘

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AI Study Notes for 岘

Usage Notes

When using 岘, be mindful that it is more commonly found in place names than in everyday conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar characters like 峦 (luán), which means 'hill' but has a different connotation. Always use 岘 in contexts referring to specific geographic features.

HSK Study Tips

Although 岘 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it expands your understanding of geographical terms in Chinese. Students should focus on its pronunciation and application in place names to enhance their geographic vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 岘 with similar characters like 峦 (luán) or 岩 (yán), which refer to different types of hills or rocks. Always remember that 岘 specifically denotes steep hills or specific mountains.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 岘

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Etymology of 岘

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

A mountain 山 that affords a good view 见; 见 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 岘

  1. 1The giveawayA mountain 山 that affords a good view 见; 见 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 岘? 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 岘?

Decomposition of 岘

IDS Structure⿰山见
岘Full Character
=
山Shan1
left
见jian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 岘?

How to say steep hill; a mountain in Hubei in Chinese

“steep hill; a mountain in Hubei” in Chinese is岘xiàn

The character 岘 (xiàn) primarily refers to a steep hill or mountain, often used in geographical contexts, particularly in place names. It is also an abbreviation for specific mountains, such as Mt. Xianshou in Hubei province. The term evokes imagery of rugged landscapes and elevations, making it relevant for discussing geography and natural features.

When to use 岘

When using 岘, be mindful that it is more commonly found in place names than in everyday conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar characters like 峦 (luán), which means 'hill' but has a different connotation. Always use 岘 in contexts referring to specific geographic features.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 岘 with similar characters like 峦 (luán) or 岩 (yán), which refer to different types of hills or rocks. Always remember that 岘 specifically denotes steep hills or specific mountains.

Write 岘

岘

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 岘

Words Containing This Character2
岘港Da Nang or Danang, Vietnam峴港
岘xiànsteep hill峴
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 岘港 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 岘

It's not commonly used in everyday conversation but is significant in geographic contexts, especially in place names.

Jason Recommends

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