Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
硯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
硯yàninkstonex, 12 strokes, radical 石
yàn(yan4) T4
  1. 1inkstone
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

硯yàn(yan4)

硯 (yàn) refers to an inkstone, a traditional tool used in Chinese calligraphy for grinding ink. It is often made of stone and has a smooth surface, allowing for the preparation of ink from solid ink sticks. Inkstones are commonly used in scholarly and artistic contexts, emphasizing the importance of calligraphy in Chinese culture.

Strokes12Radical石
Cultural Note

The use of 硯 is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, particularly among scholars and artists. It reflects the traditional values of patience and precision in calligraphy, which is seen as a form of art and self-expression.

Memory Tip

Imagine an artist sitting at a desk with an inkstone (硯) made of smooth stone. The shape of the character resembles a stone tablet, and you can remember 'yàn' by picturing an artist saying 'YAY! I have my inkstone ready!'

Meanings of 硯

yàn(yan4)
1inkstone
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 硯

硯Simplified
12Strokes
石Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 硯

JasonAmy

Podcast: 硯

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 硯

Usage Notes

In formal settings, 硯 is often associated with traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy, so it's best to use it in contexts related to arts or education. Be careful with the tone; 'yàn' is pronounced with a falling tone, which is different from 'yan' (烟, smoke). Common phrases include 硯台 (yàntái, inkstone stand) and 硯水 (yànshuǐ, ink water).

HSK Study Tips

While 硯 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other words related to writing and art, such as 墨 (mò, ink) and 毛笔 (máobǐ, brush). Focus on pronunciation and character recognition to enhance your calligraphy vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 硯 with similar characters like 颜 (yán, face) or 演 (yǎn, perform), which have different meanings. Always remember that 硯 specifically relates to the tool for ink preparation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 硯

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 硯 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 硯

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

Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 见 represents the sound. Simplified form of 硯.

Memory Hint

stone

Semantic (meaning)石
+
Phonetic (sound)見
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 硯

Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 见 represents the sound. Simplified form of 硯.

  1. 1The meaning half石 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half見 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaystone
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 硯? 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 硯?

Decomposition of 硯

IDS Structure⿰石見
硯Full Character
=
石dan4
left
見jian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 硯?

How to say inkstone in Chinese

“inkstone” in Chinese is硯yàn

硯 (yàn) refers to an inkstone, a traditional tool used in Chinese calligraphy for grinding ink. It is often made of stone and has a smooth surface, allowing for the preparation of ink from solid ink sticks. Inkstones are commonly used in scholarly and artistic contexts, emphasizing the importance of calligraphy in Chinese culture.

When to use 硯

In formal settings, 硯 is often associated with traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy, so it's best to use it in contexts related to arts or education. Be careful with the tone; 'yàn' is pronounced with a falling tone, which is different from 'yan' (烟, smoke). Common phrases include 硯台 (yàntái, inkstone stand) and 硯水 (yànshuǐ, ink water).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 硯 with similar characters like 颜 (yán, face) or 演 (yǎn, perform), which have different meanings. Always remember that 硯 specifically relates to the tool for ink preparation.

Write 硯

硯

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 硯

Words Containing This Character13
砚台ink stone硯臺
砚yànink-stone硯
端砚high-quality ink stonemade in Duanxi and Guangdong端硯
程砚秋Cheng Yanqiu (1904-1958), famous Beijing opera star, second only to 梅蘭芳|梅兰芳[Méi​Lán​fāng]程硯秋
砚石ink stone硯石
砚池(concave) ink stone or ink slab硯池
砚山Yanshan county in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao autonomous prefecture 文山壯族苗族自治州|文山壮族苗族自治州[Wén​shān​Zhuàng​zú​Miáo​zú​zì​zhì​zhōu], Yunnan硯山
砚山县Yanshan county in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao autonomous prefecture 文山壯族苗族自治州|文山壮族苗族自治州[Wén​shān​Zhuàng​zú​Miáo​zú​zì​zhì​zhōu], Yunnan硯山縣
砚田ink stone硯田
瓦砚ink stone or ink slab made from an antique palace tile瓦硯
古砚antique ink slab古硯
陶砚ink stone made of pottery陶硯
磨穿铁砚to grind one's way through an ink stone磨穿鐵硯
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 砚台 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 硯

An inkstone is used to grind ink sticks into liquid ink, essential for calligraphy and painting.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 硯?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.