Meanings of 殘
By ear
Play it, then pick what 殘 means.
About 殘
Podcast: 殘
Podcast: 殘
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 殘
残 (cán) vs 伤 (shāng): Use 殘 when emphasizing cruelty or a severe state of ruin, while 伤 focuses more on the act of injury itself without the same connotation of oppression.
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 殘, as it must be said with a rising tone to convey the correct meaning. Common collocations include 殘忍 (cánrěn, cruel) and 殘缺 (cánquē, incomplete). This character is more formal and may not be used as frequently in everyday conversation.
Although 殘 is not included in the HSK levels, students studying at the intermediate level should recognize its components and how it relates to words like 殺 (shā, to kill) and 段 (duàn, section) to understand its nuances better. Focus on its usage in more complex sentences.
Learners often confuse 殘 with other similar-sounding characters like 产 (chǎn, to produce) due to pronunciation similarities. Ensure you practice the tones, as using a different tone can change the meaning entirely.
Pronunciation of 殘
Drill the tone of 殘, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 殘 to you
Let me explain 殘 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 殘 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 殘?
Learning Lab
Knowing 殘 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.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Etymology of 殘
Simplified form of 殘. Phonosemantic compound. 歹 represents the meaning and 戔 represents the sound.
death
Origin
殘 = 歹 + 戔. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 殘
Parts
Which of these is part of 殘?
How to say to injure, to ruin, to spoil; cruel, oppressive, savage; disabled, incomplete in Chinese
“to injure, to ruin, to spoil; cruel, oppressive, savage; disabled, incomplete” in Chinese is殘
The character 殘 (cán) primarily means to injure or ruin something, often implying a sense of cruelty or oppression. It can also refer to being incomplete or disabled, commonly used in contexts that describe physical or emotional states that are not whole. This character is often associated with negative connotations, reflecting the severity of the action or state it describes.
When to use 殘
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 殘, as it must be said with a rising tone to convey the correct meaning. Common collocations include 殘忍 (cánrěn, cruel) and 殘缺 (cánquē, incomplete). This character is more formal and may not be used as frequently in everyday conversation.
殘 or something close to it
残 (cán) vs 伤 (shāng): Use 殘 when emphasizing cruelty or a severe state of ruin, while 伤 focuses more on the act of injury itself without the same connotation of oppression.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 殘 with other similar-sounding characters like 产 (chǎn, to produce) due to pronunciation similarities. Ensure you practice the tones, as using a different tone can change the meaning entirely.
Write 殘
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 殘 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 殘?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Word Family of 殘
Characters with 殘
What does 残 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 殘
Common words include 殘忍 (cánrěn, cruel), 殘疾 (cánzhí, disability), and 殘酷 (cánkù, brutal).
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 殘?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.