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闵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
mǐnto mourn, to grieve; to incite, to urge onnr, 7 strokes, radical 门, rank #27149, Hard
mǐnsurname Minunknown, 7 strokes, radical 门, rank #27149, Hard
mǐn(Min3) T3
  1. 1to mourn, to grieve; to incite, to urge on
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(閔)mǐn(Min3)

The character 闵 (mǐn) primarily means 'to mourn' or 'to grieve,' often used in contexts of expressing sorrow or loss. It can also mean 'to incite' or 'to urge on,' conveying a sense of encouragement or motivation. Additionally, it is a common surname in China, linking it to personal identity.

Strokes7RadicalFrequency#27149DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, mourning is taken very seriously, often accompanied by specific rituals and customs, especially during funerals. The character 闵 reflects this cultural importance and sensitivity towards loss and remembrance.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person standing by a door (the radical 门) looking sad as they mourn the loss of a loved one. This door represents the entry to their grief, and you can remember the pronunciation 'mǐn' by associating it with the sound of a mournful sigh.

Meanings of 闵

mǐn(Min3)
1to mourn, to grieve; to incite, to urge on
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 闵

Simplified
Traditional
7Strokes
Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 闵

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 闵

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person standing by a door (the radical 门) looking sad as they mourn the loss of a loved one. This door represents the entry to their grief, and you can remember the pronunciation 'mǐn' by associating it with the sound of a mournful sigh.

Usage Notes

Be careful to use 闵 in contexts of grief or urging, as it may not be appropriate in casual conversations about less serious matters. It's often paired with other words like '悲伤' (sorrow) when discussing mourning. Additionally, ensure the correct tone is used, as mispronouncing it may change its meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 闵 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it can be connected to the themes of emotion and family seen in HSK Level 3 and above. Students should focus on the nuance of expressing feelings and relationships in Mandarin, especially in written form.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, mourning is taken very seriously, often accompanied by specific rituals and customs, especially during funerals. The character 闵 reflects this cultural importance and sensitivity towards loss and remembrance.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 闵 with similar-sounding characters like 闷 (mēn), which means 'to feel bored' or 'to suffocate.' Always remember that 闵 relates to grief, while 闷 conveys a different sentiment.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 闵

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Etymology of 闵

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

Phonosemantic compound. 文 represents the meaning and 门 represents the sound. Simplified form of 閔.

Memory Hint

culture

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 闵?

Decomposition of 闵

IDS Structure⿵门文
Full Character
=
Men2
enclosing
Wen2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 闵?

Write 闵

Practice writing 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 闵

闵 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 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 2

Complete the Sentence

她叫____青, 这个姓不多见.

Her name is Min Qing , a rare surname and she is pretty.

Example Sentences for 闵 (1)

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1
她叫闵青, 这个姓不多见.

tā jiào mǐn qīng, , zhè gè xìng bù duō.

Her name is Min Qing , a rare surname and she is pretty.

Cultural Notes for 闵

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, mourning is taken very seriously, often accompanied by specific rituals and customs, especially during funerals. The character 闵 reflects this cultural importance and sensitivity towards loss and remembrance.

Word Family of 闵

Words Containing This Character2
mǐnsurname Min
闵行区Minhang District of Shanghai閔行區
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 闵 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 闵

While its primary meaning relates to grief, it can also imply inciting or urging someone on, so context matters.