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March 24, 2026
颜(顏)yán(Yan2)
颜 (yán) primarily refers to the concept of 'face' or 'countenance,' encompassing both the physical appearance and the expression of a person. It can also denote color in certain contexts, particularly in artistic or descriptive language. As a surname, it is quite common among Chinese people.
Strokes15Radical页Frequency#10331DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'face' (颜) is crucial as it relates to social reputation and personal dignity. The idea of maintaining 'face' is significant in interpersonal relationships and social interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a face (颜) that is painted with bright colors, representing the dual meanings of 'face' and 'color.' The character has a 'face' radical (亻) on the left, symbolizing people, while the right side (言) suggests speech, linking the idea of facial expression to communication.
Meanings of 颜
yán(Yan2)
1color
2face
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 颜
颜Simplified
顏Traditional
15Strokes
页Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#10331Frequency Rank
Podcast: 颜
Podcast: 颜
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AI Study Notes for 颜
Quick Contrast
颜 (yán) vs 面 (miàn) — use 颜 for nuances of expression or countenance, while 面 refers more to the surface or physical aspect of the face.
Usage Notes
In informal contexts, 颜 can be used to describe someone's appearance or mood, while in formal settings, it may refer to facial expressions in literature or art discussions. A common mistake is confusing it with the character '颜料' (yánliào), which specifically means 'pigment' or 'paint.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 颜 is not included in HSK levels, it connects with other characters related to appearance and emotions. Students should focus on pronunciation and the usage of 颜 in phrases like '颜值' (yánzhí), meaning attractiveness.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 颜 with the character '面' (miàn), which also means 'face.' For example, saying '我喜欢他的面' (wǒ xǐhuān tā de miàn) instead of '我喜欢他的颜' (wǒ xǐhuān tā de yán) can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 颜
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Phonosemantic compound. 页 represents the meaning and 彦 represents the sound. Simplified form of 顏.
1The meaning half页 carries the sense.
2The sound half彦 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayhead
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 颜? 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 颜?
Decomposition of 颜
IDS Structure⿰彦页
颜Full Character
=
彦yan4
left
页ye4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 颜?
How to say surname Yan in Chinese
“surname Yan” in Chinese is颜yán
颜 (yán) primarily refers to the concept of 'face' or 'countenance,' encompassing both the physical appearance and the expression of a person. It can also denote color in certain contexts, particularly in artistic or descriptive language. As a surname, it is quite common among Chinese people.
When to use 颜
In informal contexts, 颜 can be used to describe someone's appearance or mood, while in formal settings, it may refer to facial expressions in literature or art discussions. A common mistake is confusing it with the character '颜料' (yánliào), which specifically means 'pigment' or 'paint.'
颜 or something close to it
颜 (yán) vs 面 (miàn) — use 颜 for nuances of expression or countenance, while 面 refers more to the surface or physical aspect of the face.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 颜 with the character '面' (miàn), which also means 'face.' For example, saying '我喜欢他的面' (wǒ xǐhuān tā de miàn) instead of '我喜欢他的颜' (wǒ xǐhuān tā de yán) can lead to misunderstandings.
Write 颜
颜
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Practice writing 颜 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 颜
颜 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 6 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.
