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讒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
chánto slander, to defame; to misrepresentzg, 24 strokes, radical 言, Very Hard
chán(chan2) T2
  1. 1to slander, to defame; to misrepresent
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March 24, 2026

chán(chan2)

The character 讒 (chán) means to slander or defame someone, often involving the act of misrepresenting the truth to damage someone's reputation. It is commonly used in contexts related to gossip, politics, or personal disputes, where one person's words can unfairly harm another's standing.

Strokes24RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese history, slander has been a significant theme, especially during political turmoil, where rumors could lead to severe consequences. The character 讒 reflects the societal understanding of the power of words and the importance of reputation in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'chant' (sounds like 'chán') that spreads false rumors about someone. The character 讒 has the radical for speech (言) on the left, which connects to its meaning of speaking ill of someone. Picture someone chanting slanderous words in front of a crowd, causing a scandal.

Meanings of 讒

chán(chan2)
1to slander, to defame; to misrepresent
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 讒

Simplified
24Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 讒

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AI Study Notes for 讒

Quick Contrast

中伤 (zhōngshāng) - use 讒 (chán) when emphasizing malicious intent in slander, while 中伤 suggests harm but may not imply deceitful misrepresentation.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'chant' (sounds like 'chán') that spreads false rumors about someone. The character 讒 has the radical for speech (言) on the left, which connects to its meaning of speaking ill of someone. Picture someone chanting slanderous words in front of a crowd, causing a scandal.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 讒 (to slander) with similar-sounding terms that relate to praise or honesty. This word is generally used in more formal or serious contexts, such as legal discussions or moral evaluations. Common collocations include 讒言 (slanderous words) and 讒害 (to slander and harm).

HSK Study Tips

Although 讒 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to other words related to speech and communication, such as 说 (to speak) and 语 (language). Focus on understanding the nuances of how language can be used both positively and negatively.

Cultural Note

In Chinese history, slander has been a significant theme, especially during political turmoil, where rumors could lead to severe consequences. The character 讒 reflects the societal understanding of the power of words and the importance of reputation in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 讒 with 赞 (zàn), which means to praise, leading to incorrect sentences like '他被人赞了' (He was praised by someone) instead of the intended meaning of slander. Always remember that 讒 has a negative connotation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 讒

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Etymology of 讒

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 讒?

Decomposition of 讒

IDS Structure⿰言毚
Full Character
=
yan2
left
chan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 讒?

Write 讒

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

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Cultural Notes for 讒

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese history, slander has been a significant theme, especially during political turmoil, where rumors could lead to severe consequences. The character 讒 reflects the societal understanding of the power of words and the importance of reputation in Chinese culture.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, slander is often treated as a legal issue, whereas in Chinese culture, it can carry significant social implications that may affect one's family and community standing.

Word Family of 讒

Words Containing This Character4
谗言slander讒言
chánto slander
谗佞a slandering toady讒佞
谗害to slander讒害
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 谗言 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 讒

You can say '他被人讒了' (Tā bèi rén chán le), meaning 'He was slandered by someone.'