HSK 7, n, 8 strokes, radical 木, rank #9821, Very Hard
枕
zhěn
to pillow
HSK 7, n, 8 strokes, radical 木, rank #9821, Very Hard
枕
zhěn
to rest one's head
HSK 7, n, 8 strokes, radical 木, rank #9821, Very Hard
zhěn(zhen3)zhen T3
1pillow
2to pillow
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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#9821DifficultyVery Hard
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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 枕 means.
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.
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.
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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How Well Do You Know 枕?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 枕 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.
枕 = 木 + 冘. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 枕
IDS Structure⿰木冘
枕Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
冘yin2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 枕?
How to say pillow in Chinese
“pillow” in Chinese is枕zhěn
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.
When to use 枕
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.
枕 or something close to it
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.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 枕
枕
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Practice writing 枕 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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.
