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残 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
残
cán
to destroy
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #5783, Very Hard
残
cán
to spoil
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #5783, Very Hard
残
cán
to ruin
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #5783, Very Hard
残
cán
to injure
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #5783, Very Hard
残
cán
cruel
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #5783, Very Hard
残
cán
oppressive
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #5783, Very Hard
残
cán
savage
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #5783, Very Hard
残
cán
brutal
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #5783, Very Hard
残
cán
incomplete
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #5783, Very Hard
残
cán
disabled
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #5783, Very Hard
残
cán
to remain
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #5783, Very Hard
残
cán
to survive
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #5783, Very Hard
残
cán
remnant
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #5783, Very Hard
残
cán
surplus
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 歹, rank #5783, Very Hard
cán(can2)can T2
1to destroy
2to spoil
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
残(殘)cán(can2)
The character 残 (cán) primarily conveys the idea of something that has been damaged, ruined, or is incomplete. It is often used in contexts describing remnants or what remains after destruction, as well as to denote cruelty or harshness in situations or behavior.
Strokes9Radical歹Frequency#5783DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 残 can reflect the harsh realities of life and survival, often seen in historical narratives about war and loss where remnants of a once-thriving community are left.
Memory tip
Imagine a cruel ruler (残) who destroys his land, leaving only remnants behind. The character has the radical for 'death' (死) combined with 'hand' (手), suggesting the hands that have caused destruction.
Meanings of 残
cán(can2)
1to destroy
2to spoil
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 残 means.
About 残
残Simplified
殘Traditional
9Strokes
歹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5783Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 残
Podcast: 残
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AI study notes for 残
Quick Contrast
残 (cán) vs 破 (pò) — use 残 when emphasizing the idea of being incomplete or a remnant, while 破 focuses more on the act of breaking or being broken.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 残 (cán), as it can easily be mixed up with other similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 残忍 (cánrěn, cruel) and 残余 (cányú, surplus). This character is generally used in both formal and informal contexts.
HSK Study Tips
Although 残 is not in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it relates to the HSK 4 level vocabulary such as 伤 (shāng, injury) and 毁 (huǐ, to destroy). Focus on understanding its usage in different contexts to strengthen your vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 残 (cán) with 整 (zhěng, complete), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '这个项目很残' (This project is very destroyed) instead of '这个项目很残缺' (This project is very incomplete) can lead to misunderstanding.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 残
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 残 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.
残 = 歹 + 戋. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 残
IDS Structure⿰歹戋
残Full character
=
歹dai3
left
戋jian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 残?
How to say to destroy in Chinese
“to destroy” in Chinese is残cán
The character 残 (cán) primarily conveys the idea of something that has been damaged, ruined, or is incomplete. It is often used in contexts describing remnants or what remains after destruction, as well as to denote cruelty or harshness in situations or behavior.
When to use 残
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 残 (cán), as it can easily be mixed up with other similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 残忍 (cánrěn, cruel) and 残余 (cányú, surplus). This character is generally used in both formal and informal contexts.
残 or something close to it
残 (cán) vs 破 (pò) — use 残 when emphasizing the idea of being incomplete or a remnant, while 破 focuses more on the act of breaking or being broken.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 残 (cán) with 整 (zhěng, complete), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '这个项目很残' (This project is very destroyed) instead of '这个项目很残缺' (This project is very incomplete) can lead to misunderstanding.
Write 残
残
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Practice writing 残 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 残
残 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 14 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.
你知道，____疾人士也拥有投票权。
People with disabilities have got a vote as well, you know.
Example sentences for 残 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
你知道，残疾人士也拥有投票权。
nǐ zhīdào， cánjírén shì yě yōngyǒu tóupiào quán。
People with disabilities have got a vote as well, you know.
2
在我生长的伦敦，四周全是轰炸后的断壁残垣。
zài wǒ shēngzhǎng de lún dūn， sìzhōu quán shì hōngzhà hòu de duàn bì cán yuán。
In London, where I grew up, we were surrounded by bomb sites.
3
战争颠倒是非：杀戮与残忍成了美德。
zhànzhēng diāndǎo shìfēi： shā lù yǔ cánrěn chéng le měidé。
War turns morality inside out: killing and cruelty are virtues.
4
我所得到的唯一食物就是这家人的残羹剩饭。
wǒ suǒ dédào de wéiyī shíwù jiùshì zhè jiārén de cán gēng shèng fàn。
The only food I ever got was the family's leftovers.
5
他靠每周领取的作为病残养老金的直接转账救济支票过日子。
tā kào měi zhōu lǐngqǔ de zuòwéi bìng cán yǎnglǎojīn de zhíjiē zhuǎnzhàng jiùjì zhīpiào guòrìzi。
He lived on an invalidity pension which came as a weekly giro.
6
他小心翼翼地跨过残余的隔墙。
tā xiǎoxīnyìyì dì kuà guò cán yú de gé qiáng。
He moved carefully over what remained of partition walls.
