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March 24, 2026
衫shān(shan1)
The character 衫 (shān) refers to a type of garment, specifically a shirt or jacket. It often denotes clothing that is lightweight and worn in casual settings. In some contexts, it can refer to garments with open slits instead of sleeves, highlighting its unique design features.
Strokes8Radical衤Frequency#6888DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, clothing like 衫 often reflects one's social status and has historical significance in various dynasties. The design of garments such as the 衫 has evolved, impacting contemporary fashion trends.
Memory Tip
Imagine a shirt (衫) that is so light it feels like a 'shun' (shān sounds like 'shun') breeze on your skin. The radical 衤 (clothing) combined with the character indicates it's related to wearables, painting a picture of a light, breezy garment.
Meanings of 衫
shān(shan1)
1garment
2jacket with open slits in place of sleeves
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 衫
衫Simplified
8Strokes
衤Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#6888Frequency Rank
Podcast: 衫
Podcast: 衫
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AI Study Notes for 衫
Quick Contrast
衬衫 (chènshān) refers specifically to a dress shirt, typically worn in formal settings, while 衫 (shān) is more general and can refer to various types of casual shirts or jackets.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the pronunciation; the tone is crucial as it differentiates 衫 (shān) from other similar-sounding words. It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing clothing, but may not be recognized in very casual conversations about fashion.
HSK Study Tips
Although 衫 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, it shares connections with other clothing-related terms, such as 裙 (qún - skirt) and 裤 (kù - pants). Focus on the radicals and associated clothing terms to build a comprehensive vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 衫 (shān) with other clothing terms like 衬衫 (chènshān - shirt) due to similar sounds. Always ensure you are using the correct character when describing specific types of clothing.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 衫
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Phonosemantic compound. 衤 represents the meaning and 彡 represents the sound.
1The meaning half衤 carries the sense.
2The sound half彡 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayclothes
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 衫? 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 衫?
Decomposition of 衫
IDS Structure⿰衤彡
衫Full Character
=
衤yi1
left
彡shan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 衫?
How to say garment in Chinese
“garment” in Chinese is衫shān
The character 衫 (shān) refers to a type of garment, specifically a shirt or jacket. It often denotes clothing that is lightweight and worn in casual settings. In some contexts, it can refer to garments with open slits instead of sleeves, highlighting its unique design features.
When to use 衫
Be cautious with the pronunciation; the tone is crucial as it differentiates 衫 (shān) from other similar-sounding words. It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing clothing, but may not be recognized in very casual conversations about fashion.
衫 or something close to it
衬衫 (chènshān) refers specifically to a dress shirt, typically worn in formal settings, while 衫 (shān) is more general and can refer to various types of casual shirts or jackets.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse 衫 (shān) with other clothing terms like 衬衫 (chènshān - shirt) due to similar sounds. Always ensure you are using the correct character when describing specific types of clothing.
Write 衫
衫
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Practice writing 衫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 衫
衫 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.
While 衫 (shān) specifically refers to a shirt or jacket, 衣 (yī) is a more general term that means clothing or garment. 衣 can refer to any type of clothing, whereas 衫 is more specific. Knowing the nuances can help you choose the correct term in conversation.
Common types of 衫 (shān) include T-shirts, blouses, and jackets. Depending on the material and style, 衫 can vary greatly in design, from casual shirts to more formal attire. Understanding these variations can help you describe clothing better in Chinese.
衫 (shān) refers to a type of garment, specifically a shirt or a jacket. It typically has open slits in place of sleeves and can also refer to robes and gowns. This character is often used to describe clothing in general.
You can use 衫 (shān) in sentences like '我买了一件衫' which means 'I bought a shirt.' It can also be used in specific contexts to refer to different types of garments like jackets or robes. Understanding the context in which you use 衫 is important for clarity.
衫 typically refers to shirts and lightweight jackets, often characterized by their open-sleeve design.
You can say '我穿了一件衫' (Wǒ chuānle yī jiàn shān), meaning 'I am wearing a shirt.'
Yes, 衫 can be used in both spoken and written contexts, though it's more common in written descriptions of clothing.
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