Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
欢(懽)huān(huan1)
欢 (huān) means to be happy or joyful. It is often used to express feelings of pleasure or delight in informal contexts, such as greeting friends or celebrating events. The character can also imply a sense of lively or cheerful atmosphere.
Strokes6Radical欠Frequency#6287DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressions of joy and welcoming are essential, especially during festivals and family gatherings. The character 欢 embodies the spirit of celebration and hospitality, which is a significant aspect of social interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a joyful person spreading happiness; the character 欢 has a mouth (口) at the bottom, indicating vocal expressions of joy, and a 'happy' top part that looks like a smile. Visualize them shouting 'huān' in delight, making everyone around them smile.
Meanings of 欢
huān(huan1)
1joyous
2happy
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 欢
欢Simplified
懽Traditional
6Strokes
欠Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#6287Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1
Podcast: 欢
Podcast: 欢
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 欢
Quick Contrast
欢 (huān) vs 喜 (xǐ) — use 欢 for a more lively or cheerful context, while 喜 is more general for happiness.
Usage Notes
Be careful to use 欢 in informal settings; it is not typically used in formal or literary contexts. Common collocations include '欢迎' (welcome) and '欢喜' (joyous). Remember that the pronunciation is important, and ensure you use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
欢 is not currently listed in HSK vocabulary, but it connects well with other emotional terms like 高兴 (gāoxìng, happy), which is at HSK Level 3. Focus on using欢 in phrases and dialogue to express emotions, as well as recognizing its use in different contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 欢 with similar words like 快乐 (kuàilè), thinking they are interchangeable. While both mean happy, 欢 is more informal and context-specific. For example, saying '我欢' (Wǒ huān) to mean 'I am happy' is incorrect; it should be '我高兴' (Wǒ gāoxìng).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 欢
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 欢 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Simplified form of 歡. Phonosemantic compound. 欠 represents the meaning and 雚 represents the sound. 欠 (yawn) is a pictograph of a person with an open mouth. Likely used here to represent a person joyfully laughing.
Simplified form of 歡. Phonosemantic compound. 欠 represents the meaning and 雚 represents the sound. 欠 (yawn) is a pictograph of a person with an open mouth. Likely used here to represent a person joyfully laughing.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 欢? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Decomposition of 欢
IDS Structure⿰又欠
欢Full Character
=
又you4
left
欠qian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 欢?
How to say joyous in Chinese
“joyous” in Chinese is欢huān
欢 (huān) means to be happy or joyful. It is often used to express feelings of pleasure or delight in informal contexts, such as greeting friends or celebrating events. The character can also imply a sense of lively or cheerful atmosphere.
When to use 欢
Be careful to use 欢 in informal settings; it is not typically used in formal or literary contexts. Common collocations include '欢迎' (welcome) and '欢喜' (joyous). Remember that the pronunciation is important, and ensure you use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
欢 or something close to it
欢 (huān) vs 喜 (xǐ) — use 欢 for a more lively or cheerful context, while 喜 is more general for happiness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 欢 with similar words like 快乐 (kuàilè), thinking they are interchangeable. While both mean happy, 欢 is more informal and context-specific. For example, saying '我欢' (Wǒ huān) to mean 'I am happy' is incorrect; it should be '我高兴' (Wǒ gāoxìng).
Write 欢
欢
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 欢 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 欢
欢 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 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.
