HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 心, rank #6956, Very Hard
悬
xuán
to worry
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 心, rank #6956, Very Hard
悬
xuán
public announcement
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 心, rank #6956, Very Hard
悬
xuán
unresolved
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 心, rank #6956, Very Hard
悬
xuán
baseless
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 心, rank #6956, Very Hard
悬
xuán
without foundation
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 心, rank #6956, Very Hard
悬
xuán
to hang, to hoist, to suspend; hung
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 心, rank #6956, Very Hard
xuán(xuan2) T2
1to hang or suspend
2to worry
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
悬(懸)xuán(xuan2)
The character 悬 (xuán) means to hang or suspend something, both physically and metaphorically. It can indicate a state of worry or uncertainty, as well as refer to unresolved issues or baseless claims. Commonly used in both everyday contexts, such as hanging objects, and in more abstract situations like expressing concerns or doubts.
Strokes11Radical心Frequency#6956DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of hanging or suspension can be linked to traditional practices such as hanging lanterns during festivals, which symbolize hope and guidance. Additionally, the idea of unresolved matters resonates with the cultural importance placed on harmony and resolution in social relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'xuán' (suspense) movie where a character hangs from a cliff, creating tension. The radical '氵' (water) suggests depth, while the '悬' suggests something floating or hanging in the air, evoking a sense of worry and uncertainty.
Meanings of 悬
xuán(xuan2)
1to hang or suspend
2to worry
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 悬
悬Simplified
懸Traditional
11Strokes
心Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#6956Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 悬
Podcast: 悬
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AI Study Notes for 悬
Quick Contrast
悬 (xuán) vs 吊 (diào) — use 悬 for metaphorical or abstract hanging, while 吊 is more physical and often refers specifically to suspending objects.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 悬 with other similar characters like 懸, which is a variant form. This word is generally used in both formal and informal contexts but is more common in written language. Pay attention to the tone; the second tone (xuán) is crucial to avoid misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 悬 is not part of the official HSK levels, it connects well with HSK vocabulary related to emotions and states of being, such as 担心 (dān xīn - to worry). Focus on practicing the different contexts where 悬 can be used to express both physical and emotional states.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 悬 with the verb 挂 (guà), which specifically means 'to hang' in a more physical sense. For example, saying '我悬衣服' (wǒ xuán yīfu) is incorrect; it should be '我挂衣服' (wǒ guà yīfu) for 'I hang the clothes.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 悬
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1The giveawayPride 心 in one's country 县, expressed by a flag; 县 also provides the pronunciation
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 悬? 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 悬?
Decomposition of 悬
IDS Structure⿱县心
悬Full Character
=
县xian4
top
心xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 悬?
How to say to hang or suspend in Chinese
“to hang or suspend” in Chinese is悬xuán
The character 悬 (xuán) means to hang or suspend something, both physically and metaphorically. It can indicate a state of worry or uncertainty, as well as refer to unresolved issues or baseless claims. Commonly used in both everyday contexts, such as hanging objects, and in more abstract situations like expressing concerns or doubts.
When to use 悬
Be careful not to confuse 悬 with other similar characters like 懸, which is a variant form. This word is generally used in both formal and informal contexts but is more common in written language. Pay attention to the tone; the second tone (xuán) is crucial to avoid misunderstandings.
悬 or something close to it
悬 (xuán) vs 吊 (diào) — use 悬 for metaphorical or abstract hanging, while 吊 is more physical and often refers specifically to suspending objects.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 悬 with the verb 挂 (guà), which specifically means 'to hang' in a more physical sense. For example, saying '我悬衣服' (wǒ xuán yīfu) is incorrect; it should be '我挂衣服' (wǒ guà yīfu) for 'I hang the clothes.'
Write 悬
悬
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Practice writing 悬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 悬
悬 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 7 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
Complete the Sentence
____吊的屋顶下是一条宽阔的游廊。
There is a wide veranda under the overhang of the roof.
Example Sentences for 悬 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
悬吊的屋顶下是一条宽阔的游廊。
xuán diào de wū dǐng xià shì yī tiáo kuān kuò de yóu láng。
There is a wide veranda under the overhang of the roof.
2
一团油腻的黑色烟雾飘到悬崖顶上。
yī tuán yóu nì de hēi sè yān wù piāo dào xuán yá dǐng shàng。
A pall of oily black smoke drifted over the cliff-top.
3
关于他工作的许多重要问题仍然悬而未决。
guān yú tā gōng zuò de xǔ duō zhòng yào wèn tí réng rán xuán ér wèi jué。
Major questions remain to be answered about his work.
