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盞 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
盞zhǎnsmall cup or containerx, 13 strokes, radical 皿
zhǎn(zhan3)zhan T3
  1. 1small cup or container
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March 24, 2026

盞zhǎn(zhan3)

The character 盞 (zhǎn) refers to a small cup or container, often used for holding liquids. It is commonly associated with traditional Chinese tea culture, where specific types of cups are used for serving tea. The term can also imply a sense of delicacy or refinement in the context of dining and tea ceremonies.

Strokes13Radical皿
Cultural note

In Chinese tea culture, the type of cup used, such as a 盞, can signify the quality of tea and the seriousness of the tea ceremony. The act of serving tea with the right vessels is a mark of respect and attention to detail.

Memory tip

Imagine a tiny cup (盞) that holds a delicate tea, with the lid slightly open. The top of the character looks like a lid, and the bottom part suggests a cup shape. Remember 'zhǎn' by thinking of 'gently pouring tea into a small cup'.

Meanings of 盞

zhǎn(zhan3)
1small cup or container
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 盞

盞Simplified
13Strokes
皿Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 盞

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AI study notes for 盞

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 盞 with similar characters related to drinking vessels. It is important to use 盞 in contexts that reflect its size and purpose, often in more formal or traditional settings. Be cautious with the third tone pronunciation to avoid miscommunication.

HSK Study Tips

While 盞 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, recognizing it can enhance understanding of cultural references related to tea. Focus on associating it with words about tea (茶) and cups (杯) to build a thematic vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 盞 in informal contexts where a more general term like 杯 would be appropriate. For example, saying '我喝水用盞' (I drink water using a 'small cup') sounds awkward; instead, use '杯' for casual references.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 盞

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Etymology of 盞

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

A small 戔 dish 皿; 戔 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 盞?

Decomposition of 盞

IDS Structure⿱戔皿
盞Full character
=
戔jian1
top
皿min3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 盞?

How to say small cup or container in Chinese

“small cup or container” in Chinese is盞zhǎn

The character 盞 (zhǎn) refers to a small cup or container, often used for holding liquids. It is commonly associated with traditional Chinese tea culture, where specific types of cups are used for serving tea. The term can also imply a sense of delicacy or refinement in the context of dining and tea ceremonies.

When to use 盞

Learners often confuse 盞 with similar characters related to drinking vessels. It is important to use 盞 in contexts that reflect its size and purpose, often in more formal or traditional settings. Be cautious with the third tone pronunciation to avoid miscommunication.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly use 盞 in informal contexts where a more general term like 杯 would be appropriate. For example, saying '我喝水用盞' (I drink water using a 'small cup') sounds awkward; instead, use '杯' for casual references.

Write 盞

盞

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

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Word Family of 盞

Words containing this character2
盏zhǎna small cup盞
灯盏lantern燈盞
Exercise 1 of 2

Characters with 盞

What does 盏 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 盞

盞 refers specifically to a small cup often used for tea, while 杯 is a more general term for cup or glass.

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