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March 24, 2026
穿chuān(chuan1)
The character 穿 (chuān) primarily means 'to wear' or 'to put on' clothing. It can also signify 'to pass through' or 'to pierce,' making it versatile in different contexts, such as discussing dressing oneself or describing something that goes through another object. It is commonly used in daily conversations about fashion and clothing.
Strokes9Radical穴Frequency#270DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussing clothing can reflect social status and personal style, making 穿 a significant word in everyday life. Traditional Chinese garments might also be referenced when using 穿, highlighting its role in cultural identity.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person穿 (chuān)ing a dress that has many holes, allowing them to pass through it easily. The character 穿 has a '穿' radical representing 'wearing' and the bottom part looks like someone threading through fabric, helping you remember its meaning and pronunciation.
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AI Study Notes for 穿
Quick Contrast
穿 (chuān) vs 戴 (dài) — use 穿 for clothing worn on the body, while 戴 is for accessories like hats or jewelry.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 穿 with 戴 (dài), which is used for accessories like hats or jewelry. 穿 is typically used in informal contexts and should be paired with clothing items for clarity, such as 穿衣服 (chuān yīfu) for 'to wear clothes.' Be mindful of the fourth tone in pronunciation to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 穿 connects with other basic vocabulary related to clothing and personal items. Focus on using 穿 in sentences about daily dressing routines or shopping experiences to solidify its meaning and usage.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes incorrectly use 穿 for accessories, saying things like 穿帽子 (chuān màozi) instead of 戴帽子 (dài màozi). Also, they might forget to add the measure word for clothing, which can lead to confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 穿
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How Well Do You Know 穿?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 穿 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
穿 = 牙 + 穴. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 穿
IDS Structure⿱穴牙
穿Full Character
=
穴xue2
top
牙ya2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 穿?
How to say to bore through in Chinese
“to bore through” in Chinese is穿chuān
The character 穿 (chuān) primarily means 'to wear' or 'to put on' clothing. It can also signify 'to pass through' or 'to pierce,' making it versatile in different contexts, such as discussing dressing oneself or describing something that goes through another object. It is commonly used in daily conversations about fashion and clothing.
When to use 穿
Learners often confuse 穿 with 戴 (dài), which is used for accessories like hats or jewelry. 穿 is typically used in informal contexts and should be paired with clothing items for clarity, such as 穿衣服 (chuān yīfu) for 'to wear clothes.' Be mindful of the fourth tone in pronunciation to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.
穿 or something close to it
穿 (chuān) vs 戴 (dài) — use 穿 for clothing worn on the body, while 戴 is for accessories like hats or jewelry.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes incorrectly use 穿 for accessories, saying things like 穿帽子 (chuān màozi) instead of 戴帽子 (dài màozi). Also, they might forget to add the measure word for clothing, which can lead to confusion.
Write 穿
穿
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Practice writing 穿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 穿
穿 carries 10 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
