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March 24, 2026
惦diàn(dian4)
The character 惦 (diàn) means to think of or remember someone or something fondly, often implying a sense of longing or missing them. It is commonly used in contexts where there is an emotional connection, such as when someone is missed or thought of with care. The nuance often suggests a deeper emotional engagement than just remembering.
Strokes11Radical忄Frequency#43885DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The concept of missing someone is significant in Chinese culture, especially during holidays like the Mid-Autumn Festival when families are often apart. The use of 惦 reflects the importance placed on familial and social bonds.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person holding a heavy heart (the heart is the radical '忄', related to feelings) while they think of someone far away. The 'diàn' sounds like 'dear', reminding you that you think of someone you hold dear to your heart, thus helping you remember the meaning of 'to miss or think of someone fondly.'
Meanings of 惦
diàn(dian4)
1to think of
2to remember
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 惦
惦Simplified
11Strokes
忄Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#43885Frequency Rank
Podcast: 惦
Podcast: 惦
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AI Study Notes for 惦
Quick Contrast
惦 (diàn) vs 记 (jì) — use 惦 when emphasizing emotional connection or longing, while 记 simply means to remember without the emotional nuance.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person holding a heavy heart (the heart is the radical '忄', related to feelings) while they think of someone far away. The 'diàn' sounds like 'dear', reminding you that you think of someone you hold dear to your heart, thus helping you remember the meaning of 'to miss or think of someone fondly.'
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 惦 with similar characters like 记 (jì) which means to remember without the emotional context. This word is more commonly used in informal settings, often in conversation about loved ones. Common collocations include 惦记 (diànjì) meaning 'to remember fondly' or 'to miss'.
HSK Study Tips
Although 惦 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with words at the HSK 4 level that express feelings and relationships, such as 想 (xiǎng, to think) and 记得 (jìdé, to remember). Focus on using it in sentences that express emotional connections.
Cultural Note
The concept of missing someone is significant in Chinese culture, especially during holidays like the Mid-Autumn Festival when families are often apart. The use of 惦 reflects the importance placed on familial and social bonds.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 惦 with 记 (jì), leading to mistakes like saying 惦事情 (diàn shìqíng) when they should say 记事情 (jì shìqíng) to mean 'to remember things'. The correct usage should emphasize emotional connections, such as 惦记人 (diànjì rén), meaning 'to miss someone'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 惦
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Grammar Patterns of 惦
惦 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 5
Complete the Sentence
她郁郁寡欢，显然在____念自己的孩子们。
She was very glum and was obviously missing her children.
Example Sentences for 惦 (4)
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1
她郁郁寡欢，显然在惦念自己的孩子们。
tā yù yù guǎ huān， ， xiǎn rán zài diàn niàn zì jǐ de hái zǐ。
She was very glum and was obviously missing her children.
Don't worry yourself about the children. They're old enough to take good care of themselves.
Cultural Notes for 惦
🏮Cultural insight
The concept of missing someone is significant in Chinese culture, especially during holidays like the Mid-Autumn Festival when families are often apart. The use of 惦 reflects the importance placed on familial and social bonds.
Word Family of 惦
Words Containing This Character3
惦记diànjìto think of惦記
惦念to constantly have (sb or sth) on one's mind
惦diànto think of
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 惦记 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 惦
You can say '我很想他，常常惦记着他' (I miss him and often think of him fondly).
It is primarily used in informal contexts, especially when discussing emotions related to loved ones.
No, 惦 is typically used for people or emotional connections rather than inanimate objects.
