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嵌 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
嵌
kǎn
to inlay
v, 12 strokes, radical 山, rank #13007, Very Hard
嵌
kǎn
to embed
v, 12 strokes, radical 山, rank #13007, Very Hard
嵌
kǎn
valley, ravine; to fall into; to inlay, to set in
v, 12 strokes, radical 山, rank #13007, Very Hard
嵌
qiàn
to inlay
v, 12 strokes, radical 山, rank #13007, Very Hard
嵌
qiàn
to embed
v, 12 strokes, radical 山, rank #13007, Very Hard
嵌
qiàn
valley, ravine; to fall into; to inlay, to set in
v, 12 strokes, radical 山, rank #13007, Very Hard
kǎn(kan3)kan
primary
T3
1to inlay
2to embed
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
嵌kǎn(kan3)
The character 嵌 (kǎn) primarily means to inlay or embed something within another object. It is often used in contexts involving craftsmanship, such as inlaying precious stones in jewelry or embedding materials in construction. The nuance can also imply a sense of fitting something precisely into a designated space.
Strokes12Radical山Frequency#13007DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese architecture, inlaying techniques are often used to create intricate designs in furniture and decorative items, showcasing the craftsmanship and attention to detail that are valued in Chinese culture.
Memory tip
Imagine a stone (岩) being carefully fitted into a wall (嵌). The '嵌' looks like a mountain (山) with something neatly placed inside. Visualize a craftsman (kǎn) placing a gem into a ring, highlighting 'inlay' in a beautiful way.
Meanings of 嵌
kǎn(kan3)
primary
1to inlay
2to embed
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 嵌 means.
About 嵌
嵌Simplified
12Strokes
山Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#13007Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嵌
Podcast: 嵌
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AI study notes for 嵌
Quick Contrast
嵌 (kǎn) vs 安 (ān) — 嵌 emphasizes embedding or inlaying, while 安 focuses on placing or securing something in a position.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 嵌 with similar characters like 陷 (xiàn), which means to fall into. 嵌 is typically used in a more formal context, often related to art or construction, while 陷 is used in everyday language. Be mindful of the third tone in pronunciation, as it can easily be mispronounced.
HSK Study Tips
While 嵌 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with other characters related to embedding or inlaying, such as 嵌入 (to embed). Students should focus on recognizing the context in which 嵌 is used to better understand its applications.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嵌 with 陷, mistakenly using 嵌 in contexts that imply falling into something. For example, saying '我陷了这个石头' (I embedded this stone) instead of '我嵌了这个石头'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嵌
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How well do you know 嵌?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 嵌 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
嵌 = 山 + 欠. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 嵌
IDS Structure⿱山⿰甘欠
嵌Full character
=
山Shan1
top
甘Gan1
left
欠qian4
right
Exercise 1 of 3
Parts
Which of these is part of 嵌?
How to say to inlay in Chinese
“to inlay” in Chinese is嵌kǎn
The character 嵌 (kǎn) primarily means to inlay or embed something within another object. It is often used in contexts involving craftsmanship, such as inlaying precious stones in jewelry or embedding materials in construction. The nuance can also imply a sense of fitting something precisely into a designated space.
When to use 嵌
Common mistakes include confusing 嵌 with similar characters like 陷 (xiàn), which means to fall into. 嵌 is typically used in a more formal context, often related to art or construction, while 陷 is used in everyday language. Be mindful of the third tone in pronunciation, as it can easily be mispronounced.
嵌 or something close to it
嵌 (kǎn) vs 安 (ān) — 嵌 emphasizes embedding or inlaying, while 安 focuses on placing or securing something in a position.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 嵌 with 陷, mistakenly using 嵌 in contexts that imply falling into something. For example, saying '我陷了这个石头' (I embedded this stone) instead of '我嵌了这个石头'.
Write 嵌
嵌
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Practice writing 嵌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 嵌
嵌 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 3 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.
笨重的深色桌子上____有颜色较浅的木头。
The heavy dark table is inlaid with lighter wood.
Example sentences for 嵌 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
笨重的深色桌子上嵌有颜色较浅的木头。
bènzhòng de shēn sè zhuōzi shàng kǎn yǒu yánsè jiào jiān de mùtou。
