Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
撼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
撼hànto shakev, 16 strokes, radical 扌, rank #51162, Very Hard
撼hànto vibratev, 16 strokes, radical 扌, rank #51162, Very Hard
撼hànto incite, to move, to shakev, 16 strokes, radical 扌, rank #51162, Very Hard
hàn(han4)han T4
  1. 1to shake
  2. 2to vibrate
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

撼hàn(han4)

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.

Strokes16Radical扌Frequency#51162DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of shaking is often tied to natural forces, such as earthquakes, which have significant historical impacts. The word 撼 can also evoke the idea of stirring one's spirit or emotions, reflecting the deep connection between nature and human feelings in Chinese thought.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant hand (the radical 扌) shaking a mountain (the character for 'mountain' 山) to create an earthquake. The sound 'hàn' resembles the sound of a hand shaking something vigorously. Visualize this image to remember both the form and meaning of 撼.

Meanings of 撼

hàn(han4)
1to shake
2to vibrate
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 撼 means.

About 撼

撼Simplified
16Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#51162Frequency Rank

Podcast: 撼

JasonAmy

Podcast: 撼

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 撼

Quick Contrast

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.

Usage Notes

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.

HSK Study Tips

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.

Common Mistakes

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').

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 撼

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 撼 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 撼 to You

Let me explain 撼 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 撼 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 撼?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 撼 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 撼

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 感 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)扌
+
Phonetic (sound)感
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

撼 = 扌 + 感. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 撼

IDS Structure⿰扌感
撼Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
感gan3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 撼?

How to say to shake in Chinese

“to shake” in Chinese is撼hàn

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

撼

Practice writing 撼 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

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)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
那足以让曼塞尔获得别人无法撼动的领先地位。

nà zú yǐ ràng màn sāi ěr huò dé bié rén wú fǎ hàn dòng de lǐng xiān dì wèi。

That was enough to give Mansell an unassailable lead.
2
即便我们击败了托基队也不能撼动足球界。

jí biàn wǒ mén jī bài le tuō jī duì yě bù néng hàn dòng zú qiú jiè。

It won't shake the football world if we beat Torquay.
3
还有两个比赛日,中国队的位置已经不可撼动。

huán yǒu liǎng gè bǐ sài rì, , zhōng guó duì de wèi zhì yǐ jīng bù kě hàn。

With two more days of competition to go China is in an unbeatable position.
4
青年牧师的话音时断时续,听起来甜美 、 丰润而深沉, 实在撼人心肺.

qīng nián mù shī de huà yīn shí duàn shí xù, , tīng qǐ lái tián、 měi 、 fēng rùn ér, shēn chén , shí zài hàn.

The young pastor's voice was tremulously sweet , rich, deep, and broken.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 撼?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Word Family of 撼

Words Containing This Character9
震撼zhènhànto shake
撼动to shake up撼動
撼hànto shake
摇撼to shake搖撼
震撼性shocking
蚍蜉撼树lit. an ant trying to shake a tree蚍蜉撼樹
撼天动地earth-shaking撼天動地
蚍蜉撼大树fig. to overrate one's own strength蚍蜉撼大樹
蜻蜓撼石柱lit. the dragon-fly shakes the stone tower (idiom); fig. to overestimate one's capabilities
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 撼

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.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab