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March 24, 2026
捐juān(juan1)
The character 捐 (juān) primarily means 'to donate' or 'to contribute.' It is commonly used in contexts involving charitable acts, such as donating money or resources to a cause. Additionally, it can imply giving up something or renouncing a possession, adding a layer of personal sacrifice or commitment to the act of donating.
Strokes10Radical扌Frequency#3425DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of 捐 is deeply valued, especially during natural disasters or community crises, where collective contributions are seen as a moral duty. Events like charity drives or fundraising campaigns often invoke this character to encourage participation.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person holding a large bag full of donations, eagerly '捐' (juān) it to a charity. The left part of the character, 扌 (hand), suggests action, while the right part, 捐, resembles a person giving away something of value. Picture them joyfully relinquishing their possessions to help others.
Meanings of 捐
juān(juan1)
1to contribute
2to donate
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 捐 means.
About 捐
捐Simplified
10Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3425Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3BCT✓CEFRC1
Podcast: 捐
Podcast: 捐
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AI Study Notes for 捐
Quick Contrast
捐 (donate) vs 赠 (give as a gift) — use 捐 when emphasizing charity or contribution, while 赠 focuses on gifting without the implication of sacrifice.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the context in which you use 捐, as it often carries a positive connotation of goodwill. Common collocations include 捐款 (donate money), 捐赠 (donation), and 捐助 (to assist). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts where more specific terms might be required.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 捐 connects well with themes of charity and social responsibility found in other vocabulary at this level. Focus on practicing its usage in sentences about charitable actions or contributions to deepen understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 捐 with 给予 (jǐyǔ), which means 'to give.' An incorrect use might be saying '我捐给你' (I donate to you) when in a personal context, it is more natural to say '我给你' (I give you). Always ensure the context aligns with the act of donation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 捐
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How Well Do You Know 捐?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 捐 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.
捐 = 扌 + 肙. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 捐
IDS Structure⿰扌肙
捐Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
肙yuan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 捐?
How to say to contribute in Chinese
“to contribute” in Chinese is捐juān
The character 捐 (juān) primarily means 'to donate' or 'to contribute.' It is commonly used in contexts involving charitable acts, such as donating money or resources to a cause. Additionally, it can imply giving up something or renouncing a possession, adding a layer of personal sacrifice or commitment to the act of donating.
When to use 捐
Be cautious with the context in which you use 捐, as it often carries a positive connotation of goodwill. Common collocations include 捐款 (donate money), 捐赠 (donation), and 捐助 (to assist). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts where more specific terms might be required.
捐 or something close to it
捐 (donate) vs 赠 (give as a gift) — use 捐 when emphasizing charity or contribution, while 赠 focuses on gifting without the implication of sacrifice.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 捐 with 给予 (jǐyǔ), which means 'to give.' An incorrect use might be saying '我捐给你' (I donate to you) when in a personal context, it is more natural to say '我给你' (I give you). Always ensure the context aligns with the act of donation.
Write 捐
捐
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Practice writing 捐 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 捐
捐 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 example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
请于今日将随函附上的____款表格用所提供的邮资预付的信封寄回。
Return the enclosed Donation Form today in the prepaid envelope provided.
Common Confusions with 捐
捐vs捡
jiǎn
Similar shape and sound, but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to contribute”?
or
Example Sentences for 捐 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
请于今日将随函附上的捐款表格用所提供的邮资预付的信封寄回。
qǐng yú jīn rì jiāng suí hán fù shàng de juān kuǎn biǎo gé yòng suǒ tí gōng de yóu zī yù fù de xìn fēng jì huí。
Return the enclosed Donation Form today in the prepaid envelope provided.
