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March 24, 2026
懺chàn(chan4)
The character 懺 (chàn) conveys the idea of regret or repentance, often associated with a deep sense of remorse for one's actions. It is commonly used in religious or spiritual contexts, particularly in Buddhism, where one seeks forgiveness and expresses a desire to change one’s behavior.
Strokes20Radical忄Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese Buddhism, the act of 懺悔 is an important ritual, often performed during ceremonies to cleanse oneself of sins. This reflects a cultural emphasis on moral integrity and the importance of seeking forgiveness.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person standing in front of a mirror, looking regretful and saying 'chàn' as they reflect on their past mistakes. The left side of the character, 忄, represents the heart, while the right side, 赊, suggests a sense of heaviness or burden, emphasizing the weight of regret.
Meanings of 懺
chàn(chan4)
1to regret, to repent; confession, penitence
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 懺
懺Simplified
20Strokes
忄Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 懺
Podcast: 懺
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AI Study Notes for 懺
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person standing in front of a mirror, looking regretful and saying 'chàn' as they reflect on their past mistakes. The left side of the character, 忄, represents the heart, while the right side, 赊, suggests a sense of heaviness or burden, emphasizing the weight of regret.
Usage Notes
While using 懺, learners should be mindful of its formal register, often found in written texts or serious discussions. A common collocation is 懺悔 (chàn huǐ), meaning 'to confess' or 'to repent'. Avoid using it in casual conversations, as it can sound overly dramatic.
HSK Study Tips
Though 懺 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 4 words related to emotions and moral concepts. Students should focus on its usage in context and related phrases like 懺悔 to better understand its implications.
Cultural Note
In Chinese Buddhism, the act of 懺悔 is an important ritual, often performed during ceremonies to cleanse oneself of sins. This reflects a cultural emphasis on moral integrity and the importance of seeking forgiveness.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 懺 with similar characters like 悔. For example, saying '我懺我的错误' is incorrect; it should be '我悔我的错误' for a more casual expression of regret.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 懺
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Cultural Notes for 懺
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese Buddhism, the act of 懺悔 is an important ritual, often performed during ceremonies to cleanse oneself of sins. This reflects a cultural emphasis on moral integrity and the importance of seeking forgiveness.
Word Family of 懺
Words Containing This Character2
忏悔to confess懺悔
忏chànregret懺
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 忏悔 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 懺
While both terms relate to regret, 懺 (chàn) emphasizes a deeper, often spiritual repentance, whereas 悔 (huǐ) can simply mean to regret without the connotations of confession.
It's best reserved for formal contexts or discussions related to morality and ethics, as it may sound too intense for casual conversation.
