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挑战 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
挑战
tiǎozhàn
to challenge
HSK 5, vn, 18 strokes, rank #1416, Hard
挑战
tiǎozhàn
challenge
HSK 5, vn, 18 strokes, rank #1416, Hard
tiǎozhàn(tiao3zhan4)tiao zhan T3
1to challenge
2challenge
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March 24, 2026
挑战(挑戰)tiǎozhàn(tiao3zhan4)
The word 挑战 (tiǎozhàn) means 'to challenge' or 'a challenge'. It can refer to both the act of challenging someone or something, as well as the challenge itself. Commonly used in contexts of competition, personal growth, or confronting difficulties.
Strokes18Frequency#1416DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, challenges are often viewed positively as opportunities for growth and improvement, reflecting the value placed on perseverance and resilience. This is especially evident in educational and professional settings, where facing challenges is encouraged.
Memory tip
Imagine a person (the radical 挑) holding a flag (the radical 战) at the top of a mountain, symbolizing a challenge that must be faced. The '挑' part can remind you of 'to pick' or 'to choose', suggesting the act of choosing to take on a challenge, while '战' relates to battle, reinforcing the idea of a competition or fight.
Meanings of 挑战
tiǎozhàn(tiao3zhan4)
1to challenge
2challenge
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About 挑战
挑战Simplified
挑戰Traditional
18Strokes
—Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#1416Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 挑战
Podcast: 挑战
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AI study notes for 挑战
Quick Contrast
挑战 (tiǎozhàn) vs 竞争 (jìngzhēng) — use 挑战 for personal or subjective challenges, while 竞争 refers specifically to competition between entities.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 挑战 with other similar words like '挑战性' (tiǎozhànxìng), which means 'challenging nature'. This term is informal and can be used in both casual and formal contexts. Common collocations include '面对挑战' (miànduì tiǎozhàn) meaning 'to face a challenge'.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 挑战 connects well with other action verbs and nouns related to competition and personal development. Students should focus on using it in sentences that reflect both its verbal and nominal forms, enhancing their understanding of context.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 挑战 with other similar verbs like 促进 (cùjìn, to promote). For example, saying '我促进了这项挑战' (I promoted this challenge) is incorrect; instead, use '我面对了这项挑战' (I faced this challenge).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 挑战
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The word 挑战 (tiǎozhàn) means 'to challenge' or 'a challenge'. It can refer to both the act of challenging someone or something, as well as the challenge itself. Commonly used in contexts of competition, personal growth, or confronting difficulties.
When to use 挑战
Be careful not to confuse 挑战 with other similar words like '挑战性' (tiǎozhànxìng), which means 'challenging nature'. This term is informal and can be used in both casual and formal contexts. Common collocations include '面对挑战' (miànduì tiǎozhàn) meaning 'to face a challenge'.
挑战 or something close to it
挑战 (tiǎozhàn) vs 竞争 (jìngzhēng) — use 挑战 for personal or subjective challenges, while 竞争 refers specifically to competition between entities.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 挑战 with other similar verbs like 促进 (cùjìn, to promote). For example, saying '我促进了这项挑战' (I promoted this challenge) is incorrect; instead, use '我面对了这项挑战' (I faced this challenge).
Write 挑战
挑
战
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Grammar patterns of 挑战
挑战 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 2 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.
