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狷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
狷juànrash, irritable, impulsive, impetuousx, 10 strokes, radical 犭
狷juànupright (character)unknown, 10 strokes, radical 犭
juàn(juan4)juan T4
  1. 1rash, irritable, impulsive, impetuous
  2. 2upright (character)
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March 24, 2026

狷(獧)juàn(juan4)

The character 狷 (juàn) describes a personality trait characterized by rashness, irritability, and impulsiveness. It can also connote a sense of uprightness in character, often implying a straightforwardness that may lead to hasty decisions. Commonly used in literary contexts, it reflects a strong emotional response rather than a calm or measured approach.

Strokes10Radical犭
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese thought, character and personality are highly valued, often viewed through the lens of Confucian ideals. The concept of being 'upright' yet 'rash' reflects the tension in striving for moral integrity while dealing with emotional impulses.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'rushed' lion (the radical 狼 represents animals), whose impulsive actions lead it to make brash decisions in the wild. The lion's 'rushed' personality helps you remember that 'juàn' sounds like 'juant' — think of a lion that can’t 'wait' to pounce, embodying rashness.

Meanings of 狷

juàn(juan4)
1rash, irritable, impulsive, impetuous
2upright (character)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 狷

狷Simplified
獧Traditional
10Strokes
犭Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 狷

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AI study notes for 狷

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 狷 with similar characters that denote different aspects of personality. Make sure to use this term in contexts discussing character traits rather than physical actions. It is more common in literary or formal registers.

HSK Study Tips

Though not included in the HSK, understanding 狷 can deepen your grasp of character descriptions in advanced texts. Focus on its emotional implications and how it contrasts with more stable traits, as it can enhance your vocabulary for discussing personality in detail.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 狷 with characters that imply calmness or steadiness, like 温 (wēn, warm). For instance, saying '他是个温的人' (He is a warm person) when they mean to imply impulsiveness leads to misunderstanding; the correct phrase would be '他是个狷的人.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 狷

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Etymology of 狷

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

dog

Semantic (meaning)犭
+
Phonetic (sound)肙
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

狷 = 犭 + 肙. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 狷

IDS Structure⿰犭肙
狷Full character
=
犭quan3
left
肙yuan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 狷?

How to say rash, irritable, impulsive, impetuous in Chinese

“rash, irritable, impulsive, impetuous” in Chinese is狷juàn

The character 狷 (juàn) describes a personality trait characterized by rashness, irritability, and impulsiveness. It can also connote a sense of uprightness in character, often implying a straightforwardness that may lead to hasty decisions. Commonly used in literary contexts, it reflects a strong emotional response rather than a calm or measured approach.

When to use 狷

Learners often confuse 狷 with similar characters that denote different aspects of personality. Make sure to use this term in contexts discussing character traits rather than physical actions. It is more common in literary or formal registers.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 狷 with characters that imply calmness or steadiness, like 温 (wēn, warm). For instance, saying '他是个温的人' (He is a warm person) when they mean to imply impulsiveness leads to misunderstanding; the correct phrase would be '他是个狷的人.'

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狷

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Word Family of 狷

Words containing this character1
狷juànnimble獧

Frequently asked questions about 狷

It's commonly used in literary contexts to describe characters or individuals with impulsive traits.

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