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毚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
毚chángreedy; cunningzg, 17 strokes, radical 比
毚chánartfulunknown, 17 strokes, radical 比
chán(chan2)chan T2
  1. 1greedy; cunning
  2. 2artful
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March 24, 2026

毚chán(chan2)

The character 毚 (chán) refers to a person who is greedy or cunning, often used to describe someone who is artful in their deception or manipulation. It conveys a sense of cleverness that is not necessarily positive, implying slyness or craftiness in behavior. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in literary contexts or discussions about character traits.

Strokes17Radical比
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, being cunning can be viewed as a double-edged sword; while cleverness is often admired, being overly deceitful can lead to social ostracism. This reflects the value placed on integrity in personal and business relationships.

Memory tip

Imagine a cunning fox (the radical 毚 is visually reminiscent of a tail) sneaking around to gather shiny objects (representing greed). The 'chán' sounds like 'chan,' as in 'chan the crafty fox,' who is always plotting to outsmart others.

Meanings of 毚

chán(chan2)
1greedy; cunning
2artful
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 毚

毚Simplified
17Strokes
比Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 毚

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Podcast: 毚

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AI study notes for 毚

Usage Notes

It's important to use 毚 (chán) in contexts that emphasize cunning or deception since it has negative connotations. Avoid using it in formal settings or to describe someone positively. Common collocations include phrases that discuss cleverness in schemes or plots.

HSK Study Tips

Although 毚 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it connects to other HSK vocabulary related to personality traits, such as 聪明 (cōngming, smart) or 狡猾 (jiǎohuá, cunning). Focus on understanding its negative implications and the contexts in which it is appropriate to use.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 毚 (chán) with similar-sounding words that have positive meanings, such as 聪明 (cōngming, smart). Remember that 毚 has a distinctly negative connotation, so use it carefully in context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 毚

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Etymology of 毚

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

Eating two whole rabbits 㲋 and 兔

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 毚?

Decomposition of 毚

IDS Structure⿱㲋兔
毚Full character
=
㲋chuo4
top
兔tu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 毚?

How to say greedy; cunning in Chinese

“greedy; cunning” in Chinese is毚chán

The character 毚 (chán) refers to a person who is greedy or cunning, often used to describe someone who is artful in their deception or manipulation. It conveys a sense of cleverness that is not necessarily positive, implying slyness or craftiness in behavior. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in literary contexts or discussions about character traits.

When to use 毚

It's important to use 毚 (chán) in contexts that emphasize cunning or deception since it has negative connotations. Avoid using it in formal settings or to describe someone positively. Common collocations include phrases that discuss cleverness in schemes or plots.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 毚 (chán) with similar-sounding words that have positive meanings, such as 聪明 (cōngming, smart). Remember that 毚 has a distinctly negative connotation, so use it carefully in context.

Write 毚

毚

Practice writing 毚 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently asked questions about 毚

It primarily means greedy or cunning, often with a negative connotation.

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