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鬒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鬒zhěnglossy black hairx, 20 strokes, radical 髟
鬒zhěnbushy black hairunknown, 20 strokes, radical 髟
zhěn(zhen3) T3
  1. 1glossy black hair
  2. 2bushy black hair
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鬒zhěn(zhen3)

The character 鬒 (zhěn) refers to glossy or bushy black hair, often used in poetic or literary contexts to describe hair that is lustrous and well-groomed. It embodies a sense of beauty and elegance typically associated with rich, dark hair, often found in classical Chinese literature.

Strokes20Radical髟
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, hair is often associated with personal beauty and social status, making the description of hair, like 鬒, significant in poetry and art. It reflects the traditional appreciation for elegance and refinement.

Memory Tip

Imagine a beautiful, glossy black mane of a horse (鬒 sounds like 'zen' and 'mane' looks like 'zhěn'). Picture this horse standing proudly, its hair flowing like silk in the wind, representing the essence of luxurious black hair.

Meanings of 鬒

zhěn(zhen3)
1glossy black hair
2bushy black hair
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鬒

鬒Simplified
20Strokes
髟Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鬒

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Podcast: 鬒

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鬒

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation and is more common in literary contexts. It's important to know that it has a positive connotation, often linked to beauty. Be cautious with tone; a mispronunciation could change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鬒 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your appreciation of classical texts. Focus on the character's radicals and how it relates to other hair-related words in Chinese, like 发 (fà) for hair.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鬒 with similar characters related to hair, such as 发 (fà). For example, saying 鬒 when referring to general hair instead of using 发 can lead to confusion. Ensure to use 鬒 specifically for glossy or bushy black hair.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鬒

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Etymology of 鬒

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

hair

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鬒

  1. 1The meaning half髟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half真 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhair
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 鬒? 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 鬒?

Decomposition of 鬒

IDS Structure⿱髟真
鬒Full Character
=
髟biao1
top
真zhen1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鬒?

How to say glossy black hair in Chinese

“glossy black hair” in Chinese is鬒zhěn

The character 鬒 (zhěn) refers to glossy or bushy black hair, often used in poetic or literary contexts to describe hair that is lustrous and well-groomed. It embodies a sense of beauty and elegance typically associated with rich, dark hair, often found in classical Chinese literature.

When to use 鬒

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation and is more common in literary contexts. It's important to know that it has a positive connotation, often linked to beauty. Be cautious with tone; a mispronunciation could change the meaning entirely.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鬒 with similar characters related to hair, such as 发 (fà). For example, saying 鬒 when referring to general hair instead of using 发 can lead to confusion. Ensure to use 鬒 specifically for glossy or bushy black hair.

Write 鬒

鬒

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 鬒

Words Containing This Character1
鬒zhěnbushy black hair
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鬒 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鬒

No, 鬒 is primarily used in literary contexts rather than everyday speech.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鬒?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.