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谶 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
chènprophecy; hint, omenn, 19 strokes, radical 讠, rank #96084, Very Hard
chèn(chen4) T4
  1. 1prophecy; hint, omen
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March 24, 2026

(讖)chèn(chen4)

The character 谶 (chèn) refers to a type of prophecy or omen, often related to predictions about the future. It is commonly used in contexts involving divination or spiritual foresight, suggesting a deeper meaning behind events. The term can also imply a hint about what may happen, highlighting its predictive nature.

Strokes19RadicalFrequency#96084DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, prophecies are often seen as significant omens that can influence decisions and events, especially in historical texts like the 'I Ching' (易经), which emphasizes the importance of divination and foresight.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wise sage (the radical 言, meaning 'speech') whispering a prophecy to a king, hinting at what the future holds. The sound 'chèn' can remind you of 'chant,' where the sage chants out the omens of destiny.

Meanings of 谶

chèn(chen4)
1prophecy; hint, omen
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 谶

Simplified
Traditional
19Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 谶

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AI Study Notes for 谶

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a wise sage (the radical 言, meaning 'speech') whispering a prophecy to a king, hinting at what the future holds. The sound 'chèn' can remind you of 'chant,' where the sage chants out the omens of destiny.

Usage Notes

While 谶 is a formal term often used in literary or historical contexts, learners should avoid using it in casual conversation. It frequently collocates with words like '预言' (prophecy) and '兆头' (omen). Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters.

HSK Study Tips

Although 谶 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with the study of characters related to predictions and omens, which often appear in more advanced levels. Students should focus on the character's components and its usage in classical texts to deepen understanding.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, prophecies are often seen as significant omens that can influence decisions and events, especially in historical texts like the 'I Ching' (易经), which emphasizes the importance of divination and foresight.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 谶 with similar characters like 讽 (fěng, meaning 'satire'). For example, saying '我看到一个讽' (I saw an omen) instead of '我看到一个谶' is incorrect. Correct usage would be '我看到一个谶' to indicate a prophecy.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 谶

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Etymology of 谶

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

speech

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 谶?

Decomposition of 谶

IDS Structure⿰讠韱
Full Character
=
yan2
left
xian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 谶?

Write 谶

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 谶

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, prophecies are often seen as significant omens that can influence decisions and events, especially in historical texts like the 'I Ching' (易经), which emphasizes the importance of divination and foresight.

Word Family of 谶

Words Containing This Character3
chènomen
谶纬divination combined with mystical Confucian philosopy, prevalent during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220)讖緯
谶语prophecy讖語
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 谶 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 谶

While both terms refer to predictions, 谶 is more about omens and hints often found in classical contexts, whereas 预言 is a broader term for prophecy.