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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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Based on the meaning "to pierce through". Meaning later extended to "to thread", "to string together", and "to wear".
1The meaning half牙 carries the sense.
2The sound half穴 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaytooth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 穿? 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 穿?
Decomposition of 穿
IDS Structure⿱穴牙
穿Full Character
=
穴xue2
top
牙ya2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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.
