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) 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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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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Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 冘 represents the sound.
1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
2The sound half冘 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywood
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 枕? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 枕?
Decomposition of 枕
IDS Structure⿰木冘
枕Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
冘yin2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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
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.
