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谵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
谵zhāntalkative; incoherent, babblingx, 15 strokes, radical 讠
谵zhānincoherent talkunknown, 15 strokes, radical 讠
zhān(zhan1)zhan T1
  1. 1talkative; incoherent, babbling
  2. 2incoherent talk
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March 24, 2026

谵(譫)zhān(zhan1)

The character 谵 (zhān) refers to incoherent or babbling talk, often characterized by excessive or nonsensical chatter. It can be used to describe someone who is overly talkative or has lost the coherence of their speech, often in a humorous or derogatory context.

Strokes15Radical讠
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, excessive talking can be viewed negatively, especially when it leads to gossip or misunderstanding. The character 谵 captures this cultural nuance by highlighting the idea of babbling as a lack of meaningful communication.

Memory Tip

Imagine a chattering bird (the 'talkative' part) that can't stop babbling nonsense. The character 谵 has components that resemble a mouth (speaking) and a sense of chaos, which can help you remember that it relates to incoherent speech.

Meanings of 谵

zhān(zhan1)
1talkative; incoherent, babbling
2incoherent talk
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 谵

谵Simplified
譫Traditional
15Strokes
讠Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 谵

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Podcast: 谵

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AI Study Notes for 谵

Usage Notes

This word is often used in informal contexts to describe someone who talks too much or without sense. Be careful not to confuse it with similar sounding words like '赞' (zàn, to praise), which has a positive connotation.

HSK Study Tips

Although not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, understanding 谵 can enhance your ability to express nuanced ideas related to speech. Look for connections with other words about communication, such as 说 (shuō, to speak) and 聊 (liáo, to chat).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 谵 with 赞 (zàn, to praise) due to similar sounds. A common mistake is saying '我觉得他很赞' (I think he is very talkative) instead of using 谵. The correct phrase would be '我觉得他很谵'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 谵

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Jason Explains 谵 to You

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How Well Do You Know 谵?

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Etymology of 谵

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Verbose 詹 speech 讠; 詹 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 谵?

Decomposition of 谵

IDS Structure⿰讠詹
谵Full Character
=
讠yan2
left
詹Zhan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 谵?

How to say talkative; incoherent, babbling in Chinese

“talkative; incoherent, babbling” in Chinese is谵zhān

The character 谵 (zhān) refers to incoherent or babbling talk, often characterized by excessive or nonsensical chatter. It can be used to describe someone who is overly talkative or has lost the coherence of their speech, often in a humorous or derogatory context.

When to use 谵

This word is often used in informal contexts to describe someone who talks too much or without sense. Be careful not to confuse it with similar sounding words like '赞' (zàn, to praise), which has a positive connotation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 谵 with 赞 (zàn, to praise) due to similar sounds. A common mistake is saying '我觉得他很赞' (I think he is very talkative) instead of using 谵. The correct phrase would be '我觉得他很谵'.

Write 谵

谵

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

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Word Family of 谵

Words Containing This Character1
谵zhāntalkative譫

Frequently Asked Questions about 谵

You might say, '他讲的话都是谵语,' meaning 'What he says is all babble.'

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