unknown, 12 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #8924, Very Hard
yān(yan1) T1
1to salt, to cure; to pickle, to marinate
2to cure (meat)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
腌(醃)yān(yan1)
The character 腌 (yān) primarily means to salt or marinate food, typically vegetables or meats, to enhance flavor and preservation. It is commonly used in culinary contexts, especially in traditional Chinese cooking where pickling and curing are prevalent methods of food preparation.
Strokes12Radical⺼Frequency#8924DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, pickling is a traditional method that reflects the importance of flavor and preservation, especially in regions where fresh produce might not be available year-round. 腌 is often associated with the preparation of popular dishes like pickled mustard greens.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chef named Yan who is always salting his dishes. The character 腌 has the radical for 'flesh' (月), indicating its connection to food, while the 'salt' component (氵) hints at the preservation process. Visualize Yan standing by a large jar of pickles, emphasizing the idea of marinating and salting.
Meanings of 腌
yān(yan1)
1to salt, to cure; to pickle, to marinate
2to cure (meat)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 腌
腌Simplified
醃Traditional
12Strokes
⺼Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 腌
Podcast: 腌
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 腌
Quick Contrast
腌 (yān) vs 酱 (jiàng) — use 腌 when referring to salting or marinating, while 酱 refers to sauces made from fermented ingredients.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 腌 (yān) with similar characters like 醃 (yān), which also means to pickle but is less common. It's used in both formal and informal settings, especially in cooking contexts. Pay attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Though not in the standard HSK levels, 腌 can be compared to HSK 3 cooking-related vocabulary. Students should focus on its usage in recipes or food discussions to build contextual understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 腌 with 醃 and use them interchangeably, which can lead to misunderstandings. For example, saying '我腌鱼' (wǒ yān yú) is correct for 'I pickle fish,' but using 醃 here would be less common in everyday speech.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 腌
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 腌 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
1The giveawayMeat ⺼ left 奄 in salt; 奄 also provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 腌? 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 腌?
Decomposition of 腌
IDS Structure⿰⺼奄
腌Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
奄yan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 腌?
How to say to salt, to cure; to pickle, to marinate in Chinese
“to salt, to cure; to pickle, to marinate” in Chinese is腌yān
The character 腌 (yān) primarily means to salt or marinate food, typically vegetables or meats, to enhance flavor and preservation. It is commonly used in culinary contexts, especially in traditional Chinese cooking where pickling and curing are prevalent methods of food preparation.
When to use 腌
Learners often confuse 腌 (yān) with similar characters like 醃 (yān), which also means to pickle but is less common. It's used in both formal and informal settings, especially in cooking contexts. Pay attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
腌 or something close to it
腌 (yān) vs 酱 (jiàng) — use 腌 when referring to salting or marinating, while 酱 refers to sauces made from fermented ingredients.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes confuse 腌 with 醃 and use them interchangeably, which can lead to misunderstandings. For example, saying '我腌鱼' (wǒ yān yú) is correct for 'I pickle fish,' but using 醃 here would be less common in everyday speech.
Write 腌
腌
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 腌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 腌
腌 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
酸黄瓜、果酱、____浆果、西红柿，凡是你说得出的，他们都有。
Pickled cucumbers, jam, pickled berries, tomatoes; you name it, they've got it.
