Meanings of 髯
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About 髯
Podcast: 髯
Podcast: 髯
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AI Study Notes for 髯
Imagine a wise old man with a long, flowing beard (髯) that resembles the shape of the character itself, which has a 'hair' radical (毛) at the top. Picture him telling stories that make his mustache twitch as he speaks.
髯 is generally used in literary or formal contexts when referring to beards or mustaches. Be careful not to confuse it with other characters for hair (头发, tóufà) or facial hair (胡子, húzi). The character is often used in conjunction with adjectives to describe styles or lengths of facial hair.
髯 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but it can be useful for learners at higher levels focusing on traditional literature or formal writing. Connecting it with related terms like 胡子 (húzi, beard) can enhance understanding of facial hair vocabulary.
In Chinese culture, a long beard is traditionally associated with wisdom and age, often seen on figures of authority or scholars in classical literature and art.
Learners often confuse 髯 with 胡子 (húzi), which is a more general term for beard. For instance, saying '我有髯' (Wǒ yǒu rán - I have a beard) is less common than '我有胡子' (Wǒ yǒu húzi).
Pronunciation of 髯
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Etymology of 髯
Phonosemantic compound. 髟 represents the meaning and 冉 represents the sound. Simplified form of 髥.
hair
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 髯?
Decomposition of 髯
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Write 髯
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Practice writing 髯 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 髯
髯 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 3 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.
Complete the Sentence
他的红____子染成了紫色.
His red whiskers were dyed of a purple hue.
Example Sentences for 髯 (1)
Cultural Notes for 髯
In Chinese culture, a long beard is traditionally associated with wisdom and age, often seen on figures of authority or scholars in classical literature and art.
Word Family of 髯
Compound Meaning
What does 髯 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 髯
髯 refers specifically to mustaches and beards, indicating facial hair.