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阡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
阡qiānpath; a foot-path between fieldsn, 5 strokes, radical 阝, rank #41333, Very Hard
阡qiānroad leading north and southunknown, 5 strokes, radical 阝, rank #41333, Very Hard
qiān(qian1) T1
  1. 1path; a foot-path between fields
  2. 2road leading north and south
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

阡qiān(qian1)

The character 阡 (qiān) refers to a narrow path or footpath, often found between fields or used for agricultural purposes. It can also denote roads that lead in a north-south direction, highlighting its connection to rural landscapes and traditional farming practices in China.

Strokes5Radical阝Frequency#41333DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of pathways between fields reflects the importance of agriculture and land use in rural communities. It symbolizes the connection between people and nature, which is a key theme in Chinese poetry and art.

Memory Tip

Imagine a narrow path (阡) winding through fields, where '阡' looks like a path with two fields on either side. The pronunciation 'qiān' sounds like 'can,' as in 'I can walk down the path,' linking the character’s meaning to its use.

Meanings of 阡

qiān(qian1)
1path; a foot-path between fields
2road leading north and south
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 阡

阡Simplified
5Strokes
阝Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 阡

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Podcast: 阡

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AI Study Notes for 阡

Usage Notes

This word is generally used in a more literary or formal context, often in descriptions of countryside scenes. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar characters like '径' (jìng), which means 'path' but has different nuances; remember that 阡 specifically refers to paths between fields.

HSK Study Tips

Although 阡 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it is relevant for learners interested in rural geography and literature. Students should focus on recognizing its context in texts describing landscapes, agriculture, and traditional Chinese life.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 阡 with '小路' (xiǎolù), which means 'small road' or 'path,' but 阡 has a more specific agricultural connotation. It's important to use 阡 only in contexts related to fields or rural paths.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 阡

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Etymology of 阡

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

hill

Semantic (meaning)阝
+
Phonetic (sound)千
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 阡

  1. 1The meaning half阝 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half千 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhill
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 阡? 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 阡?

Decomposition of 阡

IDS Structure⿰阝千
阡Full Character
=
阝yi4
left
千qian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 阡?

How to say path; a foot-path between fields in Chinese

“path; a foot-path between fields” in Chinese is阡qiān

The character 阡 (qiān) refers to a narrow path or footpath, often found between fields or used for agricultural purposes. It can also denote roads that lead in a north-south direction, highlighting its connection to rural landscapes and traditional farming practices in China.

When to use 阡

This word is generally used in a more literary or formal context, often in descriptions of countryside scenes. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar characters like '径' (jìng), which means 'path' but has different nuances; remember that 阡 specifically refers to paths between fields.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 阡 with '小路' (xiǎolù), which means 'small road' or 'path,' but 阡 has a more specific agricultural connotation. It's important to use 阡 only in contexts related to fields or rural paths.

Write 阡

阡

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

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Word Family of 阡

Words Containing This Character4
阡qiānroad leading north and south
喀尔巴阡山脉Carpathian Mountains, 1500-km mountain range in Central and Eastern Europe喀爾巴阡山脈
石阡Siqian county in Tongren prefecture 銅仁地區|铜仁地区[Tóng​rén​dì​qū], Guizhou
石阡县Siqian county in Tongren prefecture 銅仁地區|铜仁地区[Tóng​rén​dì​qū], Guizhou石阡縣
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 阡 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 阡

阡 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, as it is more specific to literature or descriptions of rural areas.

Jason Recommends

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