Meanings of 瀚
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 瀚
Podcast: 瀚
Podcast: 瀚
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 瀚
浩 (hào) — use 瀚 for vastness specifically related to large bodies of water, while 浩 conveys a broader sense of grandeur or vastness, not limited to water.
Common mistakes include confusing 瀚 with similar characters like 汉 (hàn), which means 'Han' or 'Chinese'. 瀚 is more poetic and is rarely used in everyday conversation, often appearing in literary contexts. Be careful with pronunciation, as a wrong tone can change the meaning.
While 瀚 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with other HSK words related to water and vastness, such as 海 (hǎi, sea) and 广 (guǎng, wide). Students should focus on recognizing how it is used in descriptive phrases or poetry.
Learners often confuse 瀚 with other water-related characters. For example, saying '我喜欢瀚海' (I like the vast sea) is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我喜欢大海' (I like the ocean) since 瀚 is rarely used in casual contexts.
Pronunciation of 瀚
Drill the tone of 瀚 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 瀚
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 翰 represents the sound.
water
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 瀚
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 翰 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half翰 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaywater
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 瀚? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 瀚?
Decomposition of 瀚
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 瀚?
How to say wide, vast, extensive in Chinese
“wide, vast, extensive” in Chinese is瀚
The character 瀚 (hàn) refers to something that is wide, vast, or extensive, often used to describe oceans, seas, or large bodies of water. It conveys a sense of boundlessness and depth, highlighting the grandeur of nature. This term can also evoke feelings of freedom and exploration in contexts related to travel or adventure.
When to use 瀚
Common mistakes include confusing 瀚 with similar characters like 汉 (hàn), which means 'Han' or 'Chinese'. 瀚 is more poetic and is rarely used in everyday conversation, often appearing in literary contexts. Be careful with pronunciation, as a wrong tone can change the meaning.
瀚 or something close to it
浩 (hào) — use 瀚 for vastness specifically related to large bodies of water, while 浩 conveys a broader sense of grandeur or vastness, not limited to water.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 瀚 with other water-related characters. For example, saying '我喜欢瀚海' (I like the vast sea) is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我喜欢大海' (I like the ocean) since 瀚 is rarely used in casual contexts.
Write 瀚
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 瀚 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 瀚
瀚 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 3 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.
Complete the Sentence
____海 阑干百丈冰, 愁云黪淡万里凝.
" The sand - sea deepens with fathomless ice, And darkness masses its endless clouds ; "
Example Sentences for 瀚 (1)
Word Family of 瀚
Compound Meaning
What does 浩瀚 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 瀚
No, 瀚 is more commonly found in literary works or formal writing rather than in everyday speech.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 瀚?
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.