Meanings of 撼
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 撼
Podcast: 撼
Podcast: 撼
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 撼
震 (zhèn) - use 撼 (hàn) when emphasizing a deep or significant impact, while 震 (zhèn) is more focused on the act of shaking or trembling.
Be cautious with the tone of 'hàn;' mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other characters. It is commonly used in literary and formal contexts, so learners should be aware of its more serious connotation compared to simpler words like 摇 (yáo) which means 'to shake' in a lighter sense.
Although 撼 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to Level 5 vocabulary concerning natural phenomena and emotional expressions. Students should focus on its usage in literature and poetry, where it often appears to describe strong emotional or physical movements.
Learners often confuse 撼 with 摇, leading to incorrect usage in casual contexts. For instance, saying '我撼手' ('I shake hands') is incorrect; it should be '我摇手' ('I wave my hand').
Pronunciation of 撼
Drill the tone of 撼 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 撼
Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 感 represents the sound.
hand
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 撼
Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 感 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half感 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayhand
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 撼? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 撼?
Decomposition of 撼
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 撼?
How to say to shake in Chinese
“to shake” in Chinese is撼
The character 撼 (hàn) means 'to shake' or 'to vibrate.' It is often used in contexts where something is being physically or emotionally moved or affected, such as in expressions related to earthquakes or stirring emotions. The nuance can also imply a strong or significant impact, suggesting that something is not just shaken, but deeply affected.
When to use 撼
Be cautious with the tone of 'hàn;' mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other characters. It is commonly used in literary and formal contexts, so learners should be aware of its more serious connotation compared to simpler words like 摇 (yáo) which means 'to shake' in a lighter sense.
撼 or something close to it
震 (zhèn) - use 撼 (hàn) when emphasizing a deep or significant impact, while 震 (zhèn) is more focused on the act of shaking or trembling.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 撼 with 摇, leading to incorrect usage in casual contexts. For instance, saying '我撼手' ('I shake hands') is incorrect; it should be '我摇手' ('I wave my hand').
Write 撼
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 撼 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 撼
撼 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.
Complete the Sentence
那足以让曼塞尔获得别人无法____动的领先地位。
That was enough to give Mansell an unassailable lead.
Example Sentences for 撼 (4)
Word Family of 撼
Compound Meaning
What does 震撼 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 撼
Synonyms include 摇 (yáo, to shake) and 震 (zhèn, to tremble or quake). However, 撼 carries a stronger connotation of impact.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 撼?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.