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March 24, 2026
欢(懽)huān(huan1)
欢 (huān) means to be happy or joyful. It is often used to express feelings of pleasure or delight in informal contexts, such as greeting friends or celebrating events. The character can also imply a sense of lively or cheerful atmosphere.
Strokes6Radical欠Frequency#6287DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressions of joy and welcoming are essential, especially during festivals and family gatherings. The character 欢 embodies the spirit of celebration and hospitality, which is a significant aspect of social interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a joyful person spreading happiness; the character 欢 has a mouth (口) at the bottom, indicating vocal expressions of joy, and a 'happy' top part that looks like a smile. Visualize them shouting 'huān' in delight, making everyone around them smile.
Meanings of 欢
huān(huan1)
1joyous
2happy
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About 欢
欢Simplified
懽Traditional
6Strokes
欠Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#6287Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1
Podcast: 欢
Podcast: 欢
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AI Study Notes for 欢
Quick Contrast
欢 (huān) vs 喜 (xǐ) — use 欢 for a more lively or cheerful context, while 喜 is more general for happiness.
Usage Notes
Be careful to use 欢 in informal settings; it is not typically used in formal or literary contexts. Common collocations include '欢迎' (welcome) and '欢喜' (joyous). Remember that the pronunciation is important, and ensure you use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
欢 is not currently listed in HSK vocabulary, but it connects well with other emotional terms like 高兴 (gāoxìng, happy), which is at HSK Level 3. Focus on using欢 in phrases and dialogue to express emotions, as well as recognizing its use in different contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 欢 with similar words like 快乐 (kuàilè), thinking they are interchangeable. While both mean happy, 欢 is more informal and context-specific. For example, saying '我欢' (Wǒ huān) to mean 'I am happy' is incorrect; it should be '我高兴' (Wǒ gāoxìng).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 欢
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How Well Do You Know 欢?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 欢 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.
Simplified form of 歡. Phonosemantic compound. 欠 represents the meaning and 雚 represents the sound. 欠 (yawn) is a pictograph of a person with an open mouth. Likely used here to represent a person joyfully laughing.
欢 (huān) means to be happy or joyful. It is often used to express feelings of pleasure or delight in informal contexts, such as greeting friends or celebrating events. The character can also imply a sense of lively or cheerful atmosphere.
When to use 欢
Be careful to use 欢 in informal settings; it is not typically used in formal or literary contexts. Common collocations include '欢迎' (welcome) and '欢喜' (joyous). Remember that the pronunciation is important, and ensure you use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
欢 or something close to it
欢 (huān) vs 喜 (xǐ) — use 欢 for a more lively or cheerful context, while 喜 is more general for happiness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 欢 with similar words like 快乐 (kuàilè), thinking they are interchangeable. While both mean happy, 欢 is more informal and context-specific. For example, saying '我欢' (Wǒ huān) to mean 'I am happy' is incorrect; it should be '我高兴' (Wǒ gāoxìng).
Write 欢
欢
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Grammar Patterns of 欢
欢 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 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.
