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汉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
汉hànHan ethnic groupHSK 6, j, 5 strokes, radical 氵, rank #4197, Hard
汉hànChinese (language)HSK 6, j, 5 strokes, radical 氵, rank #4197, Hard
汉hànmanHSK 6, j, 5 strokes, radical 氵, rank #4197, Hard
汉hànChinese people; Chinese languageHSK 6, j, 5 strokes, radical 氵, rank #4197, Hard
汉hànthe Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD)HSK 6, j, 5 strokes, radical 氵, rank #4197, Hard
hàn(Han4) T4
  1. 1Han ethnic group
  2. 2Chinese (language)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

汉(漢)hàn(Han4)

The character 汉 (hàn) primarily refers to the Han ethnic group, the largest ethnic group in China, as well as the Chinese language and culture. It also denotes the Han dynasty, a significant period in Chinese history known for its advancements in technology, culture, and the arts. In contemporary usage, it can broadly signify anything related to Chinese identity.

Strokes5Radical氵Frequency#4197DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

The Han dynasty (汉朝) is considered a golden age in Chinese history, significantly influencing Chinese culture, language, and governance. The term 汉 is not just about ethnicity but also embodies the essence of Chinese civilization.

Memory Tip

Imagine a strong man (汉) standing proudly with a banner that reads 'Han' in bold letters. The character itself has a radical that resembles a person (亻) next to a symbol representing the river (水), hinting at the connection of the Han people to the Yellow River, central to their history.

Meanings of 汉

hàn(Han4)
1Han ethnic group
2Chinese (language)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 汉

汉Simplified
漢Traditional
5Strokes
氵Radical
简称abbreviation (abbr.)Part of Speech
#4197Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6

Podcast: 汉

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Podcast: 汉

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 汉

Quick Contrast

汉 (hàn) vs 华 (huá) — use 汉 when specifically referring to the Han ethnic group or dynasty, while 华 generally relates to Chinese culture in a broader sense.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a strong man (汉) standing proudly with a banner that reads 'Han' in bold letters. The character itself has a radical that resembles a person (亻) next to a symbol representing the river (水), hinting at the connection of the Han people to the Yellow River, central to their history.

Usage Notes

汉 is often used in formal contexts when discussing ethnicity or historical topics. Common phrases include 汉语 (hànyǔ) for 'Chinese language' and 汉族 (hànzú) for 'Han ethnic group.' Be careful to use the correct tone (fourth tone) to avoid confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

While 汉 is not specifically included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is crucial for understanding cultural contexts. Students at HSK Level 3 and above should connect it with related terms like 汉字 (Chinese characters) and expand their vocabulary around Chinese culture.

Cultural Note

The Han dynasty (汉朝) is considered a golden age in Chinese history, significantly influencing Chinese culture, language, and governance. The term 汉 is not just about ethnicity but also embodies the essence of Chinese civilization.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 汉 with similar characters due to pronunciation. For instance, mixing it up with 汉 (hàn) and 含 (hán) can lead to misunderstandings, as 含 means 'to contain.' Always remember the right tone: 汉 is fourth tone.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 汉

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Etymology of 汉

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 堇 represents the sound. The simplified character 汉 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 漢.

Memory Hint

Simplified form of 漢; the Han 𦰩 river 氵

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 汉?

Decomposition of 汉

IDS Structure⿰氵又
汉Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
又you4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 汉?

Write 汉

汉

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 汉

汉 carries 5 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Related grammar lessons6
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

我写了两个____字。

I wrote two Chinese characters.

Example Sentences for 汉 (22)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
36岁的汉德拉身体健壮，有着21岁小伙子的体能。

36 36 suì de hàn dé lā shēn tǐ jiàn， zhuàng ，21 yǒu zháo 21 suì xiǎo huǒ zǐ。

Xandra is an athletic 36-year-old with a 21-year-old's body.
2
你可以和戴维·贝克汉姆的纸板模型合影。

nǐ kě yǐ hé dài wéi· · bèi kè hàn mǔ de zhǐ bǎn mó xíng hé。

You can have your picture taken with a cutout of David Beckham.
3
克纳汉因为扭伤脖子而错过了联赛。

kè nà hàn yīn wéi niǔ shāng bó zǐ ér cuò guò le lián sài。

Kernaghan missed the United game after he ricked his neck.
4
素食汉堡是一种迅速传到了英国的新开发食品。

sù shí hàn bǎo shì yī zhǒng xùn sù chuán dào le yīng guó de xīn kāi fā shí pǐn。

The vegetarian burger was an innovation which was rapidly exported to Britain.
5
起了疑心的爱好者揭发了这一勾当，警察在诺丁汉逮捕了一名男子。

qǐ le yí xīn de ài hǎo zhě jiē fā le zhè yī gōu dāng， ， jǐng chá zài nuò dīng hàn dài bǔ le yī míng nán。

Suspicious fans exposed the racket and police arrested a man in Nottingham.
6
在诺丁汉我经历了自己在童话剧演出中最尴尬的时刻之一。

zài nuò dīng hàn wǒ jīng lì le zì jǐ zài tóng huà jù yǎn chū zhōng zuì gān gà de shí kè zhī yī。

I had one of my most embarrassing moments in panto in Nottingham.
7
三个膀粗腰圆的恶汉挤到了前面。

sān gè bǎng cū yāo yuán de è hàn jǐ dào le qián miàn。

Three burly toughs elbowed their way to the front.
8
“大约6个月后，”弗洛伊德写道，“汉斯克服了他的嫉妒心理。”

“ “ dà6 yuē 6 gè，” yuè hòu ，” fú luò yī，“ dé xiě dào ，“ hàn sī kè fú le tā de。”

"Some six months later," Freud writes, "Hans had got over his jealousy."
9
来自德国汉堡的霍斯特是个名副其实的怪人。

lái zì dé guó hàn bǎo de huò sī tè shì gè míng fù qí shí de guài rén。

Horst, a German from Hamburg, was a true original.
10
焦急万分的鲍勃和汉斯把整座房子找了个遍。

jiāo jí wàn fēn de bào bó hé hàn sī bǎ zhěng zuò fáng zǐ zhǎo le gè biàn。

Desperate with anxiety, Bob and Hans searched the whole house.
11
中国的汉族是世界上人口最多的民族之一。

Zhōngguó de Hànzú shì shìjiè shàng rénkǒu zuì duō de mínzú zhī yī.

The Han ethnic group in China is one of the most populous ethnic groups in the world.
12
汉族的传统文化包括许多丰富的习俗和节日。

Hànzú de chuántǒng wénhuà bāokuò xǔduō fēngfù de xísú hé jiérì.

The traditional culture of the Han ethnic group includes many rich customs and festivals.
13
汉族是中国的一个主要民族，占全国人口的约92%。

Hànzú shì Zhōngguó de yī gè zhǔyào mínzú, zhàn quánguó rénkǒu de yuē jiǔshí'èr bǎi fēnzhī.

The Han ethnic group is a major ethnic group in China, making up about 92% of the national population.
14
汉族文化对中国的历史和社会发展有着深远的影响。

Hànzú wénhuà duì Zhōngguó de lìshǐ hé shèhuì fāzhǎn yǒuzhe shēnyuǎn de yǐngxiǎng.

Han culture has a profound impact on China's history and social development.
15
很多汉族人在春节期间会回家与家人团聚。

Hěnduō Hànzú rén zài Chūnjié qíjiān huì huíjiā yǔ jiārén tuánjù.

Many Han people return home to reunite with their families during the Spring Festival.
16
汉字是汉族文化的重要组成部分，它们承载着丰富的历史和意义。

Hànzì shì Hànzú wénhuà de zhòngyào zǔchéng bùfèn, tāmen chéngzài zhe fēngfù de lìshǐ hé yìyì.

Chinese characters are an important part of Han culture, carrying rich history and meaning.
17
中国的汉族是世界上人口最多的民族之一。

Zhōngguó de Hànzú shì shìjiè shàng rénkǒu zuì duō de mínzú zhī yī.

The Han ethnic group in China is one of the most populous ethnic groups in the world.
18
汉族的传统文化包括许多丰富的习俗和节日。

Hànzú de chuántǒng wénhuà bāokuò xǔduō fēngfù de xísú hé jiérì.

The traditional culture of the Han ethnic group includes many rich customs and festivals.
19
汉族是中国的一个主要民族，占全国人口的约92%。

Hànzú shì Zhōngguó de yī gè zhǔyào mínzú, zhàn quánguó rénkǒu de yuē jiǔshí'èr bǎi fēnzhī.

The Han ethnic group is a major ethnic group in China, making up about 92% of the national population.
20
汉族文化对中国的历史和社会发展有着深远的影响。

Hànzú wénhuà duì Zhōngguó de lìshǐ hé shèhuì fāzhǎn yǒuzhe shēnyuǎn de yǐngxiǎng.

Han culture has a profound impact on China's history and social development.
21
很多汉族人在春节期间会回家与家人团聚。

Hěnduō Hànzú rén zài Chūnjié qíjiān huì huíjiā yǔ jiārén tuánjù.

Many Han people return home to reunite with their families during the Spring Festival.
22
汉字是汉族文化的重要组成部分，它们承载着丰富的历史和意义。

Hànzì shì Hànzú wénhuà de zhòngyào zǔchéng bùfèn, tāmen chéngzài zhe fēngfù de lìshǐ hé yìyì.

Chinese characters are an important part of Han culture, carrying rich history and meaning.

Cultural Notes for 汉

🏮Cultural insight

The Han dynasty (汉朝) is considered a golden age in Chinese history, significantly influencing Chinese culture, language, and governance. The term 汉 is not just about ethnicity but also embodies the essence of Chinese civilization.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, ethnic identities are often described in more fragmented terms, whereas 汉 encompasses a broader cultural identity and historical legacy tied intricately to the Chinese state.

Word Family of 汉

Compounds1
倝gan4sunrise, dawn
Words Containing This Character20
汉hànman漢
武汉Wuhan city on Changjiang, subprovincial city and capital of Hubei province武漢
汉堡Hamburg (German city)漢堡
汉城Hanseong, former name of Seoul (capital of South Korea), replaced in 2005 with 首爾|首尔[Shǒu​'ěr]漢城
汉语hànyǔChinese language漢語
流浪汉tramp流浪漢
男子汉man (i.e. manly, masculine)男子漢
汉子man漢子
汉堡包hamburger (loanword)漢堡包
大汉big person大漢
汉字hànzìChinese character漢字
单身汉bachelor單身漢
武汉市Wuhan city on Changjiang, subprovincial city and capital of Hubei province武漢市
硬汉man of steel硬漢
汉娜Hannah (name)漢娜
汉族Han ethnic group漢族
好汉hero好漢
贝克汉姆Beckenham or Beckham (name)貝克漢姆
汉斯Hans (name)漢斯
老汉lǎohànold man老漢
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 倝 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 汉

汉 can refer to the Han ethnic group, the Chinese language, or the historic Han dynasty.

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