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March 24, 2026
獻xiàn(xian4)
The character 獻 (xiàn) means to offer or present something, often in a formal or respectful context. It is commonly used when referring to giving gifts, displaying art, or making a tribute in a ceremonial setting. The nuance often conveys a sense of honor or respect in the act of giving.
Strokes20Radical犬Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, offering gifts is an important ritual in many social and business interactions, symbolizing respect and goodwill. The use of 獻 in ceremonies, such as presenting offerings to ancestors during festivals, highlights the importance of honoring tradition.
Memory Tip
Imagine a grand ceremony where someone is offering a beautiful gift (the character is a combination of the radical '犭' which relates to animals, and '献' which suggests an offering). Picture the scene of a majestic lion presenting its prized catch to a king, emphasizing the honor in the offering.
Meanings of 獻
xiàn(xian4)
1to offer, to present; to show, to display
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 獻
獻Simplified
20Strokes
犬Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 獻
Podcast: 獻
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AI Study Notes for 獻
Quick Contrast
献 (xiàn) vs 送 (sòng) — use 獻 for formal or respectful offerings, while 送 is more casual and general for giving.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a grand ceremony where someone is offering a beautiful gift (the character is a combination of the radical '犭' which relates to animals, and '献' which suggests an offering). Picture the scene of a majestic lion presenting its prized catch to a king, emphasizing the honor in the offering.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 獻 with similar-sounding words; it has a formal tone and is not typically used in casual conversation. Common collocations include 獻給 (xiàn gěi) meaning 'to offer to' and 獻身 (xiàn shēn) meaning 'to dedicate oneself'.
HSK Study Tips
While 獻 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners at higher levels who want to express more nuanced ideas in formal contexts. Focus on practicing its usage in written and spoken expressions of respect or tribute.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, offering gifts is an important ritual in many social and business interactions, symbolizing respect and goodwill. The use of 獻 in ceremonies, such as presenting offerings to ancestors during festivals, highlights the importance of honoring tradition.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 獻 with 现 (xiàn), which means 'to appear' or 'to show'. For example, saying '我獻给你这个' (wǒ xiàn gěi nǐ zhè ge) instead of '我给你这个' (wǒ gěi nǐ zhè ge) can sound overly formal and incorrect in casual settings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 獻
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Cultural Notes for 獻
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, offering gifts is an important ritual in many social and business interactions, symbolizing respect and goodwill. The use of 獻 in ceremonies, such as presenting offerings to ancestors during festivals, highlights the importance of honoring tradition.
Word Family of 獻
Words Containing This Character18
贡献gòngxiànto contribute貢獻
献xiànto offer獻
奉献fèngxiànto consecrate奉獻
文献wénxiàndocument文獻
捐献juānxiànto donate捐獻
献身to devote oneself to獻身
献血xiànxuèto donate blood獻血
献上to offer to God獻上
献殷勤to court sb's favor獻殷勤
献策to offer advice獻策
献花to offer flowers獻花
呈献to present respectfully呈獻
献媚to pander to獻媚
献词congratulatory message獻詞
献计to offer advice獻計
献血者blood donor獻血者
张献忠Zhang Xianzhong (1606-1647), leader of a late-Ming peasant revolt張獻忠
汉献帝Emperor Xian of Han (181-234), the final Han emperor, set up by Dong Zhuo 董卓, reigned 189-220, forced to abdicate 220 by Cao Pi 曹丕漢獻帝
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 贡献 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 獻
You would use 獻 in formal situations, such as presenting a gift during a ceremony or showing respect to someone important.
No, 獻 is more formal and is typically found in written language or formal speeches rather than casual conversation.
You can associate the sound 'xiàn' with 'sacrifice', as both involve a giving action, helping to remember the meaning.
