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痫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
痫xiánepilepsy, convulsionsx, 12 strokes, radical 疒
痫xiáninsanityunknown, 12 strokes, radical 疒
xián(xian2)xian T2
  1. 1epilepsy, convulsions
  2. 2insanity
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March 24, 2026

痫(癇)xián(xian2)

The character 痫 (xián) refers primarily to epilepsy or convulsions, a neurological condition characterized by sudden and uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain. It can also connote a broader sense of insanity or mental disturbance. Commonly used in medical contexts, it emphasizes the seriousness of neurological issues.

Strokes12Radical疒
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, mental health issues, including conditions like epilepsy, have been understood through a holistic lens, often linked to the balance of 'yin' and 'yang.' Understanding this character can provide insight into how health is perceived in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Picture a brain (representing the mind) that suddenly jerks and shakes like a convulsing jelly (representing the convulsions of epilepsy). The character 痫 has a '病' (bìng) radical, which means 'disease' or 'illness,' reminding you that it involves a health condition related to the brain.

Meanings of 痫

xián(xian2)
1epilepsy, convulsions
2insanity
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 痫

痫Simplified
癇Traditional
12Strokes
疒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 痫

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Podcast: 痫

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AI Study Notes for 痫

Usage Notes

This character is formal and primarily used in medical contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Be cautious with tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely. Common collocations include 痫症 (xián zhèng, epilepsy) and 颠痫 (diān xián, seizures).

HSK Study Tips

Although 痫 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it is beneficial for learners aiming to understand medical terminology. Focus on related words such as 病 (bìng, illness) and 癫 (diān, mad) to build a relevant vocabulary base.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 痫 with 癫 (diān), which also relates to insanity but has different nuances. Make sure to use 痫 specifically for epilepsy-related contexts and not interchangeably with other mental health terms.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 痫

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Etymology of 痫

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

sickness

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

Origin

痫 = 疒 + 闲. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 痫

IDS Structure⿸疒闲
痫Full Character
=
疒ne4
enclosing
闲xian2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 痫?

How to say epilepsy, convulsions in Chinese

“epilepsy, convulsions” in Chinese is痫xián

The character 痫 (xián) refers primarily to epilepsy or convulsions, a neurological condition characterized by sudden and uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain. It can also connote a broader sense of insanity or mental disturbance. Commonly used in medical contexts, it emphasizes the seriousness of neurological issues.

When to use 痫

This character is formal and primarily used in medical contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Be cautious with tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely. Common collocations include 痫症 (xián zhèng, epilepsy) and 颠痫 (diān xián, seizures).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 痫 with 癫 (diān), which also relates to insanity but has different nuances. Make sure to use 痫 specifically for epilepsy-related contexts and not interchangeably with other mental health terms.

Write 痫

痫

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

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Grammar Patterns of 痫

痫 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他患有癫____,但是拒绝服药治疗。

He was epileptic and refused to take medication for his condition.

Example Sentences for 痫 (1)

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1
他患有癫痫,但是拒绝服药治疗。

tā huàn yǒu diān xián, , dàn shì jù jué fú yào zhì。

He was epileptic and refused to take medication for his condition.

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Word Family of 痫

Words Containing This Character3
癫痫epilepsy癲癇
痫xiánepilepsy癇
羊痫风epilepsy羊癇風
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 痫

What does 癫痫 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 痫

It means epilepsy or convulsions, and can also refer to insanity.

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