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暂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
暂
zàn
temporary
HSK 7, d, 12 strokes, radical 日, rank #12322, Very Hard
暂
zàn
Taiwan pr. [zhàn]
HSK 7, d, 12 strokes, radical 日, rank #12322, Very Hard
暂
zàn
to scurry
HSK 7, d, 12 strokes, radical 日, rank #12322, Very Hard
暂
zàn
Taiwan pr. [zhan4]
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 日, rank #12322, Very Hard
zàn(zan4)zan T4
1temporary
2Taiwan pr. [zhàn]
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March 24, 2026
暂(暫)zàn(zan4)
The character 暂 (zàn) means 'temporary' or 'provisional,' typically used to describe something that is not permanent. It can refer to temporary arrangements, positions, or states, and is often used in contexts such as temporary work or temporary solutions.
Strokes12Radical日Frequency#12322DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In modern Chinese society, the concept of temporary jobs (暂时工作) is increasingly common, especially among young professionals and in urban environments where gig economy jobs are prevalent.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'temporary' sign (暂) that flashes on and off, indicating that something is not permanent. The top part resembles a person with a flashlight (the radical for light), signaling that this situation is just a brief moment in time.
Meanings of 暂
zàn(zan4)
1temporary
2Taiwan pr. [zhàn]
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 暂 means.
About 暂
暂Simplified
暫Traditional
12Strokes
日Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#12322Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 暂
Podcast: 暂
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AI study notes for 暂
Quick Contrast
暂 (temporary) vs 临 (temporary, but with a sense of immediacy or urgency) — use 暂 for general temporary situations, while 临 emphasizes a more pressing or immediate temporary condition.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 暂 (temporary) with 常 (often), as they convey different meanings. It's important to use the correct tone and context; for example, saying '暂时的工作' (temporary job) is correct, while using it in a more permanent context would be a mistake.
HSK Study Tips
Although 暂 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it connects well with other HSK vocabulary related to time and duration, such as 时间 (time) and 现在 (now). Students should focus on how to use it in phrases indicating temporariness.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 暂 with 及时 (timely), leading to incorrect phrases like '暂时的回应' (temporary response) when they mean 'timely response.' The correct phrase should be '及时的回应.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 暂
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 暂 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.
暂 = 日 + 斩. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 暂
IDS Structure⿱斩日
暂Full character
=
斩zhan3
top
日Ri4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 暂?
How to say temporary in Chinese
“temporary” in Chinese is暂zàn
The character 暂 (zàn) means 'temporary' or 'provisional,' typically used to describe something that is not permanent. It can refer to temporary arrangements, positions, or states, and is often used in contexts such as temporary work or temporary solutions.
When to use 暂
Common mistakes include confusing 暂 (temporary) with 常 (often), as they convey different meanings. It's important to use the correct tone and context; for example, saying '暂时的工作' (temporary job) is correct, while using it in a more permanent context would be a mistake.
暂 or something close to it
暂 (temporary) vs 临 (temporary, but with a sense of immediacy or urgency) — use 暂 for general temporary situations, while 临 emphasizes a more pressing or immediate temporary condition.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 暂 with 及时 (timely), leading to incorrect phrases like '暂时的回应' (temporary response) when they mean 'timely response.' The correct phrase should be '及时的回应.'
Write 暂
暂
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Grammar patterns of 暂
暂 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 4 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.
This is a brief stop to take on passengers and water.
7
我不得不暂缓就业打算，呆在家里。
wǒ bùdébù zàn huǎn jiùyè dǎsuàn， dāi zàijiā lǐ。
I had to postpone ideas of a career and stay at home.
8
草地网球协会暂停了卡斯尔先生在英国队的职务。
cǎodì wǎngqiú xiéhuì zàntíng le kǎ Sī ěr xiānsheng zài Yīng guó duì de zhíwù。
The Lawn Tennis Association suspended Mr Castle from the British team.
9
国王说现在有寻求和平的短暂机会。
guówáng shuō xiànzài yǒu xúnqiú hépíng de duǎnzàn jīhuì。
The king said there was now a window of opportunity for peace.
10
他们去了自行车棚的后面，短暂地拥吻了一下。
tāmen qù le zìxíngchē péng de hòumiàn， duǎnzàn dì yōng wěn le yíxià。
They went for a quick snog behind the bike sheds.
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Cultural Notes for 暂
💡Did you know?
The character '暂' is derived from the combination of '日' (sun) and '暂' (to pause), symbolizing a temporary break in sunlight, which reflects the concept of temporariness.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
'暂' can be compared to the English word 'temporary'. In both languages, it signifies something that is not permanent, often used in contexts like rental agreements or temporary jobs.
Word Family of 暂
Words containing this character10
暂时zànshítemporary暫時
暂停zàntíngto suspend暫停
短暂duǎnzànbrief短暫
暂zàntemporary暫
暂行zànxíngprovisional暫行
暂且zànqiěfor now暫且
暂缓zànhuǎnto postpone暫緩
暂定zàndìngprovisional暫定
暂住证zànzhùzhèngtemporary residence permit暫住證
暂短zànduǎnbrief (in time)暫短
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 暂
What does 暂时 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 暂
暂 (zàn) and 暂时 (zànshí) both convey the idea of temporariness, but 暂 is more concise and can be used in various contexts, while 暂时 is often used in more formal phrases to specifically denote a temporary situation. For example, '我暂时不需要' translates to 'I don't need it for the time being.'
Yes, 暂 (zàn) is commonly used in everyday conversation to express temporary situations. You might hear it frequently when discussing plans or arrangements that are not permanent. It's a useful word to know for engaging in casual dialogues.
暂 (zàn) means 'temporary' or 'momentary' in Chinese. It is often used to describe something that is not permanent or is meant to last for a short period of time. In Taiwan, it can also be pronounced as 'zhàn'.
You can use 暂 (zàn) in sentences like '我暂时离开' (I will leave temporarily). It indicates that the action or state is not lasting and will change soon. It is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese.
While both can mean 'temporary,' 暂 implies a more fixed duration, whereas 临时 often refers to something hastily arranged.
Yes, 暂 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing temporary arrangements.
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