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March 24, 2026
翰hàn(Han4)
The character 翰 (hàn) primarily refers to a writing instrument such as a pen or brush. It is often associated with scholarly writing and literature, conveying a sense of elegance and artistry in written expression. Additionally, it can be a surname in Chinese culture.
Strokes16Radical羽Frequency#13986DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, writing is considered a high art form, and characters like 翰 reflect the importance placed on calligraphy and scholarly pursuits. This character is often found in contexts celebrating literary achievements and academic excellence.
Memory Tip
Imagine a grand scholar holding a large feather quill (翰) to write beautiful calligraphy. The character's left side shows the wing radical (羽), symbolizing something that can write gracefully, while the right side hints at the sound 'hàn.' Picture the feather soaring as it writes.
Meanings of 翰
hàn(Han4)
1pen, pencil, writing brush
2writing
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 翰
翰Simplified
16Strokes
羽Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 翰
Podcast: 翰
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AI Study Notes for 翰
Usage Notes
When using 翰, it's important to note that it is more formal and literary, often found in classical texts or poetry. Common collocations include '翰墨' (hàn mò), meaning ink, emphasizing the art of writing. Avoid using it in casual contexts where simpler words for 'pen' are more appropriate.
HSK Study Tips
Though 翰 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your appreciation of literary texts at levels 4 and above. Focus on its connection to writing and literature, as well as its usage in formal contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 翰 with simpler characters for 'pen' like 笔 (bǐ). For example, saying '我用翰写字' (wǒ yòng hàn xiě zì) is incorrect; it should be '我用笔写字' (wǒ yòng bǐ xiě zì).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 翰
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Drill the tone of 翰 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 羽 represents the meaning and 倝 represents the sound.
1The meaning half羽 carries the sense.
2The sound half倝 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayplume
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 翰? 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 翰?
Decomposition of 翰
IDS Structure⿰倝羽
翰Full Character
=
倝gan4
left
羽yu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 翰?
How to say surname Han in Chinese
“surname Han” in Chinese is翰hàn
The character 翰 (hàn) primarily refers to a writing instrument such as a pen or brush. It is often associated with scholarly writing and literature, conveying a sense of elegance and artistry in written expression. Additionally, it can be a surname in Chinese culture.
When to use 翰
When using 翰, it's important to note that it is more formal and literary, often found in classical texts or poetry. Common collocations include '翰墨' (hàn mò), meaning ink, emphasizing the art of writing. Avoid using it in casual contexts where simpler words for 'pen' are more appropriate.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 翰 with simpler characters for 'pen' like 笔 (bǐ). For example, saying '我用翰写字' (wǒ yòng hàn xiě zì) is incorrect; it should be '我用笔写字' (wǒ yòng bǐ xiě zì).
Write 翰
翰
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Practice writing 翰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 翰
翰 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 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.
