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March 24, 2026
枕zhěn(zhen3)
The character 枕 (zhěn) primarily means 'pillow,' an essential item used for resting one's head while sleeping. It can also be used as a verb meaning 'to pillow' or 'to rest one's head.' This term is commonly used in both spoken and written language when discussing sleep, comfort, and bedding.
Strokes8Radical木Frequency#9821DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the quality of sleep is highly valued, and pillows are often selected based on personal preference and traditional beliefs about comfort and health.
Memory Tip
Imagine a soft, fluffy pillow (枕) that cradles your head as you sleep. The character is composed of the 'wood' radical (木), suggesting a wooden framework, which can remind you of the structure often found in beds, and the 'to support' component, which relates to how a pillow supports your head.
Meanings of 枕
zhěn(zhen3)
1pillow
2to pillow
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 枕
枕Simplified
8Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9821Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 枕
Podcast: 枕
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AI Study Notes for 枕
Quick Contrast
枕头 (zhěntou) vs 枕垫 (zhěndiàn) — use 枕头 for the standard term 'pillow' in everyday conversation, while 枕垫 refers to a specific type of pillow or cushion.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a soft, fluffy pillow (枕) that cradles your head as you sleep. The character is composed of the 'wood' radical (木), suggesting a wooden framework, which can remind you of the structure often found in beds, and the 'to support' component, which relates to how a pillow supports your head.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 枕 with similar-sounding words, as the tone can change the meaning significantly. In informal contexts, you might hear it used in phrases about sleep or comfort, but in formal writing, it's best to use it in its literal sense relating to bedding.
HSK Study Tips
While 枕 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other words related to sleep and comfort, such as 睡觉 (shuìjiào, to sleep) and 床 (chuáng, bed). Focus on understanding how this character fits into everyday discussions about rest.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the quality of sleep is highly valued, and pillows are often selected based on personal preference and traditional beliefs about comfort and health.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 枕 (zhěn) with the similar-sounding 诊 (zhěn), which means 'to diagnose.' To avoid this, remember that 枕 relates specifically to sleep and comfort.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 枕
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Grammar Patterns of 枕
枕 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). 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
Complete the Sentence
他命令他们把几个____头叠放在自己的背后。
He ordered them to stack up pillows behind his back.
Example Sentences for 枕 (10)
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1
他命令他们把几个枕头叠放在自己的背后。
tā mìng líng tā mén bǎ jī gè zhěn tóu dié fàng zài zì jǐ de bèi hòu。
He ordered them to stack up pillows behind his back.
2
她把脸埋进枕头里。
tā bǎ liǎn mái jìn zhěn tóu lǐ。
She buried her face in the pillows .
3
矮老头考虑着, 他那瘦骨嶙嶙的肩膀深埋在一堆枕头之中.
ǎi lǎo tóu kǎo lǜ zháo, , tā nà shòu gǔ lín lín de jiān bǎng shēn mái zài yī duī zhěn tóu zhī.
The little man considered, his bony shoulders deep in the pile of pillows.
The two young daughters sat on the bedroom couch watching him.
5
他仰靠在转椅上，十指交叉枕在脑后。
tā yǎng kào zài zhuǎn yǐ shàng， ， shí zhǐ jiāo chā zhěn zài nǎo。
He leaned back in the swivel chair and locked his fingers behind his head.
6
她还是哭，哭呀哭，一直哭到枕头都湿透了。
tā huán shì kū， ， kū yā， kū ， yī zhí kū dào zhěn tóu dū shī。
She went on crying, and cried and cried until the pillow was wet through.
7
她半躺半坐靠在枕头上。
tā bàn tǎng bàn zuò kào zài zhěn tóu shàng。
She lay back against the pillows.
8
她筋疲力尽,又躺在枕头上.
tā jīn pí lì jìn, , yòu tǎng zài zhěn tóu.
Her strength was exhausted and she fell back on the pillow.
9
他以臂为枕躺着.
tā yǐ bì wéi zhěn tǎng zháo.
He lay with his arm pillowing his head.
10
他用两个垫枕垫头.
tā yòng liǎng gè diàn zhěn diàn tóu.
He used a couple of bolsters to elevate his head.
Cultural Notes for 枕
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the quality of sleep is highly valued, and pillows are often selected based on personal preference and traditional beliefs about comfort and health.
Word Family of 枕
Words Containing This Character19
枕头zhěntoupillow枕頭
枕zhěnpillow
高枕无忧to sleep peacefully (idiom)高枕無憂
同床共枕to share the bed
落枕to have a stiff neck after sleeping
枕套pillowcase
枕骨occipital bone (back of the skull)
枕木sleeper
枕巾pillow cloth
枕叶occipital lobe枕葉
枕席pillow mat
枕边风pillow talk枕邊風
枕戈待旦to wait for dawn, one's head resting on a spear (idiom)
安枕to sleep soundly
轨枕sleeper軌枕
枕藉to lie in total disorder
叶枕pulvini葉枕
曲肱而枕fig. content with simple things
枕石漱流a frugal life (idiom)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 枕头 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 枕
In China, you can find various types of pillows, including traditional herbal pillows that are believed to have health benefits.
While its primary meaning is 'pillow,' it can also refer to the act of resting one's head on something.
You can say '我需要一个枕头' (Wǒ xūyào yī gè zhěntóu) which means 'I need a pillow.'
