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枕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
枕
zhěn
pillow
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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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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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 mìnglìng tāmen bǎ jǐ gè zhěntou dié fàng zài zìjǐ de bèihòu。
He ordered them to stack up pillows behind his back.
2
她把脸埋进枕头里。
tā bǎ liǎn mái jìn zhěntou 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 kǎolǜ zhe, tā nà shòu gǔ lín lín de jiānbǎng shēn mái zài yī duī zhěntou zhīzhōng.
The little man considered, his bony shoulders deep in the pile of pillows.
4
论年龄,她俩已经不是抱着枕头在床上打闹,或者让人家举起来甩的小娃娃了.
lún niánlíng, tā liǎ yǐjīng bùshì bào zhe zhěntou zài chuáng shàng dǎ nào, huòzhě ràng rénjia jǔ qǐlái shuǎi de xiǎo wáwa le.
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 zhuǎi yǐ shàng， shí zhǐ jiāochā zhěn zài nǎo hòu。
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 háishi kū， kū yā kū， yìzhí kū dào zhěntou dōu shī tòu le。
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 zhěntou 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 zhěntou shàng.
Her strength was exhausted and she fell back on the pillow.
9
他以臂为枕躺着.
tā yǐ bì wèi zhěn tǎng zhe.
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.
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Word Family of 枕
Words containing this character19
枕头zhěntoupillow枕頭
枕zhěnpillow
高枕无忧gāozhěnwúyōuto sleep peacefully (idiom)高枕無憂
同床共枕tóngchuánggòngzhěnto share the bed
落枕làozhěnto have a stiff neck after sleeping
枕套zhěntàopillowcase
枕骨zhěngǔoccipital bone (back of the skull)
枕木zhěnmùsleeper
枕巾zhěnjīnpillow cloth
枕叶zhěnyèoccipital lobe枕葉
枕席zhěnxípillow mat
枕边风zhěnbiānfēngpillow talk枕邊風
枕戈待旦zhěngēdàidànto wait for dawn, one's head resting on a spear (idiom)
安枕ānzhěnto sleep soundly
轨枕guǐzhěnsleeper軌枕
枕藉zhěnjièto lie in total disorder
叶枕yèzhěnpulvini葉枕
曲肱而枕qūgōng’érzhěnfig. content with simple things
枕石漱流zhěnshíshùliúa frugal life (idiom)
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 枕
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.'
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