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March 24, 2026
畅(暢)chàng(chang4)
The character 畅 (chàng) conveys a sense of being free, unimpeded, or smooth. It is commonly used to describe things that flow well, such as a smooth conversation or unimpeded travel, suggesting a feeling of ease and comfort. In contexts like writing or speaking, it can also imply fluency and expressiveness.
Strokes8Radical日Frequency#20220DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the idea of smoothness or fluency is often associated with harmony and success, reflecting the importance of ease in social interactions and communication. The concept of '畅所欲言' (to speak freely) is valued in discussions and gatherings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a flowing river that represents freedom and smoothness. The character 畅 looks like a combination of a flowing stream (氵) and a person relaxing (畅), reminding you that when things flow freely, you can be at ease and fluent.
Meanings of 畅
chàng(chang4)
1free
2unimpeded
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 畅
畅Simplified
暢Traditional
8Strokes
日Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#20220Frequency Rank
Podcast: 畅
Podcast: 畅
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AI Study Notes for 畅
Quick Contrast
通 (tōng): Use 畅 (chàng) when emphasizing smoothness or ease; 通 (tōng) focuses more on general accessibility or communication.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 畅 with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. It is generally used in informal contexts, but can also appear in more formal writing. Common collocations include 畅谈 (chàng tán - to chat freely) and 畅通 (chàng tòng - unimpeded).
HSK Study Tips
Although 畅 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners focusing on conversational fluency. Students should pay attention to its application in expressions related to fluidity and ease, as it connects well with HSK vocabulary about emotions and communication.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 畅 with other characters like 常 (cháng - often) due to similar sounds. For example, saying '我常说中文' (Wǒ cháng shuō zhōngwén) instead of '我畅说中文' (Wǒ chàng shuō zhōngwén) alters the meaning significantly from 'I often speak Chinese' to 'I speak Chinese fluently.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 畅
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Phonosemantic compound. 申 represents the meaning and 昜 represents the sound. Simplified form of 暢.
1The meaning half申 carries the sense.
2The sound half昜 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayopen
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 畅? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 畅?
Decomposition of 畅
IDS Structure⿰申昜
畅Full Character
=
申Shen1
left
昜yang2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 畅?
How to say free in Chinese
“free” in Chinese is畅chàng
The character 畅 (chàng) conveys a sense of being free, unimpeded, or smooth. It is commonly used to describe things that flow well, such as a smooth conversation or unimpeded travel, suggesting a feeling of ease and comfort. In contexts like writing or speaking, it can also imply fluency and expressiveness.
When to use 畅
Be careful not to confuse 畅 with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. It is generally used in informal contexts, but can also appear in more formal writing. Common collocations include 畅谈 (chàng tán - to chat freely) and 畅通 (chàng tòng - unimpeded).
畅 or something close to it
通 (tōng): Use 畅 (chàng) when emphasizing smoothness or ease; 通 (tōng) focuses more on general accessibility or communication.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 畅 with other characters like 常 (cháng - often) due to similar sounds. For example, saying '我常说中文' (Wǒ cháng shuō zhōngwén) instead of '我畅说中文' (Wǒ chàng shuō zhōngwén) alters the meaning significantly from 'I often speak Chinese' to 'I speak Chinese fluently.'
Write 畅
畅
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Practice writing 畅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 畅
畅 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 7 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.
