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存 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
存
cún
to exist
HSK 4, v, 6 strokes, radical 子, rank #2453, Medium
存
cún
to deposit
HSK 4, v, 6 strokes, radical 子, rank #2453, Medium
存
cún
to store
HSK 4, v, 6 strokes, radical 子, rank #2453, Medium
存
cún
to keep
HSK 4, v, 6 strokes, radical 子, rank #2453, Medium
存
cún
to survive
HSK 4, v, 6 strokes, radical 子, rank #2453, Medium
存
cún
to exist; to survive, to maintain; to keep, to store; to deposit
HSK 4, v, 6 strokes, radical 子, rank #2453, Medium
cún(cun2)cun T2
1to exist
2to deposit
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March 24, 2026
存cún(cun2)
The character 存 (cún) primarily means 'to exist' or 'to store/deposit'. It is commonly used in contexts related to saving money, keeping items, or referring to the existence of something. The nuance often implies a sense of maintenance or preservation over time.
Strokes6Radical子Frequency#2453DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of saving or storing has historical significance, especially in the context of family and community. The practice of saving money for future generations is often emphasized in Chinese households.
Memory tip
Think of 存 (cún) as a 'container' (the radical 宀 suggests a roof or a shelter) that holds something valuable inside, like money or memories. Imagine storing your favorite toys in a box under a roof, reminding you that they exist and are preserved.
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AI study notes for 存
Quick Contrast
保留 (bǎoliú) vs 存 (cún): Use 存 when emphasizing the act of storing or depositing, while 保留 suggests preserving something in its original state.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 存 with 住 (zhù), which means 'to live' or 'to reside'. In informal contexts, it can be used to talk about keeping something for later use, while in formal settings, it may refer to financial deposits. Remember that the third tone can sometimes be mispronounced as the second tone.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 4, 存 connects well with other words related to finance and storage, like 储蓄 (chǔxù, to save money) and 保存 (bǎocún, to preserve). Students should focus on its various applications in everyday conversations and written contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 存 in contexts where 保留 (bǎoliú, to retain) is more appropriate, such as saying 存这份文件 instead of 保留这份文件. Always consider the nuance of maintenance versus mere existence.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 存
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存 = 子 + 才. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 存
IDS Structure⿸才子
存Full character
=
才cai2
enclosing
子zi3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 存?
How to say to exist in Chinese
“to exist” in Chinese is存cún
The character 存 (cún) primarily means 'to exist' or 'to store/deposit'. It is commonly used in contexts related to saving money, keeping items, or referring to the existence of something. The nuance often implies a sense of maintenance or preservation over time.
When to use 存
Common mistakes include confusing 存 with 住 (zhù), which means 'to live' or 'to reside'. In informal contexts, it can be used to talk about keeping something for later use, while in formal settings, it may refer to financial deposits. Remember that the third tone can sometimes be mispronounced as the second tone.
存 or something close to it
保留 (bǎoliú) vs 存 (cún): Use 存 when emphasizing the act of storing or depositing, while 保留 suggests preserving something in its original state.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 存 in contexts where 保留 (bǎoliú, to retain) is more appropriate, such as saying 存这份文件 instead of 保留这份文件. Always consider the nuance of maintenance versus mere existence.
Write 存
存
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Grammar patterns of 存
存 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 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
Nitrates are chemicals that occur naturally in water and the soil.
6
这两项协议之间不存在正式的关联。
zhè liǎng xiàng xiéyì zhījiān bù cúnzài zhèngshì de guānlián。
There is no formal linkage between the two agreements.
7
她说这孩子一直在拼命存钱。
tā shuō zhè háizi yìzhí zài pīnmìng cún qián。
She says the kid's been squirrelling money away like there's no tomorrow.
8
某厂家由于疏忽，制造并销售了一款刹车系统存在缺陷的汽车。
mǒu chǎngjiā yóuyú shūhu， zhìzào bìng xiāoshòu le yī kuǎn shāchē xìtǒng cúnzài quēxiàn de qìchē。
A manufacturer negligently made and marketed a car with defective brakes.
9
他关心人类生存环境的改善。
tā guānxīn rénlèi shēngcún huánjìng de gǎishàn。
He was concerned with the enhancement of the human condition.
10
这一遗迹在德鲁伊特来到不列颠前就已存在。
zhè yī yí jì zài dé Lǔ yī tè láidào bù liè diān qián jiù yǐ cúnzài。
The monument predates the arrival of the druids in Britain.
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Cultural Notes for 存
💡Did you know?
The character '存' relates to the idea of preserving or keeping something safe, similar to how seeds are stored for future planting. This reflects the importance of resource management in Chinese culture.
Word Family of 存
Compounds9
荐jiànto recommend
栫jiàn
洊jiàn
珔jiàn
侟cún
拵cún
臶jiàn
袸jiàn
銌zùn
Words containing this character20
存在cúnzàito exist
存cúnto exist
生存shēngcúnto exist
幸存者xìngcúnzhěsurvivor倖存者
保存bǎocúnto conserve
存款cúnkuǎnbank savings
库存kùcúnstock庫存
内存nèicúninternal storage內存
存储cúnchǔto store up存儲
存活cúnhuósurvival
幸存xìngcúnto survive (a disaster)倖存
储存chǔcúnstockpile儲存
存放cúnfàngto deposit
存货cúnhuòstock存貨
并存bìngcúnto coexist並存
存折cúnzhépassbook存摺
封存fēngcúnto sequester
共存gòngcúnto coexist
现存xiàncúnextant現存
留存liúcúnto keep
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 存
What does 荐 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 存
Yes, 存 (cún) is a common character that appears frequently in everyday language, especially in contexts related to finance and existence. It is included in HSK Level 3, making it essential for learners to understand and use.
Some synonyms of 存 (cún) include 保持 (bǎochí), which means 'to maintain,' and 存放 (cúnfàng), which means 'to store' or 'to deposit.' These words can be used in similar contexts depending on the situation.
You can use 存 (cún) in sentences like '我存了很多钱在银行' (Wǒ cúnle hěn duō qián zài yínháng), which means 'I have deposited a lot of money in the bank.' It can also be used in phrases like '存活' (cúnhuó) meaning 'to survive.'
存 (cún) means 'to exist' or 'to store.' It can also refer to depositing money in a bank or keeping something safe. This character is commonly used in various contexts related to existence and preservation.
In banking, 存 refers to depositing money into an account, emphasizing the act of saving.
Yes, 存 can be used to refer to the act of storing food, as in keeping it for later use.
Yes, 存 is appropriate for both formal and informal writing, especially in contexts related to existence or preservation.
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