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暗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
暗ànto close (a door)HSK 5, d, 13 strokes, radical 日, rank #2652, Medium
暗ànto eclipseHSK 5, d, 13 strokes, radical 日, rank #2652, Medium
暗ànmuddledHSK 5, d, 13 strokes, radical 日, rank #2652, Medium
暗ànstupidHSK 5, d, 13 strokes, radical 日, rank #2652, Medium
暗ànignorantHSK 5, d, 13 strokes, radical 日, rank #2652, Medium
暗àndark, gloomy; obscure; secret, covertHSK 5, d, 13 strokes, radical 日, rank #2652, Medium
暗ànhiddenHSK 5, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 日, rank #2652, Medium
暗ànin the darkHSK 5, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 日, rank #2652, Medium
àn(an4) T4
  1. 1to close (a door)
  2. 2to eclipse
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
暗(晻)àn(an4)

The character 暗 (àn) primarily means 'dark' or 'obscure,' but it can also refer to something secret or hidden. In various contexts, it may describe physical darkness, such as in the absence of light, or metaphorical darkness, referring to ignorance or lack of clarity in understanding.

Strokes13Radical日Frequency#2652DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of secrecy and hidden meanings is significant, often reflected in literature and philosophy. The idea of 'darkness' can symbolize ignorance or a lack of enlightenment, which is a common theme in traditional Chinese thought.

Memory Tip

Imagine a dark room where secrets are hidden. The character 暗 looks like a door (门) that is closed (暗), keeping everything within it in the dark. The pronunciation 'àn' sounds like 'ant,' which can scurry around unnoticed in the shadows.

Meanings of 暗

àn(an4)
1to close (a door)
2to eclipse
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 暗

暗Simplified
晻Traditional
13Strokes
日Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#2652Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 暗

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Podcast: 暗

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AI Study Notes for 暗

Quick Contrast

暗 (àn) vs 黑 (hēi) — use 暗 for metaphorical darkness or secrecy, while 黑 refers specifically to the color black.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a dark room where secrets are hidden. The character 暗 looks like a door (门) that is closed (暗), keeping everything within it in the dark. The pronunciation 'àn' sounds like 'ant,' which can scurry around unnoticed in the shadows.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 暗 with 明 (míng), which means 'bright.' Remember to use 暗 in contexts that imply secrecy or lack of light. In formal writing, it is often used to describe obscure concepts or hidden motives.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 暗 connects with other vocabulary related to light and visibility, such as 明亮 (míngliàng - bright) and 黑暗 (hēi'àn - darkness). Focus on distinguishing between these antonyms and using them in various contexts.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of secrecy and hidden meanings is significant, often reflected in literature and philosophy. The idea of 'darkness' can symbolize ignorance or a lack of enlightenment, which is a common theme in traditional Chinese thought.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 暗 to mean 'dim' in a casual context, when they should use 微暗 (wēi'àn) for 'dim' or 'low light.' For example, saying '这儿很暗' (Zhèr hěn àn) when referring to a dimly lit café could imply complete darkness instead of a cozy atmosphere.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 暗

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Etymology of 暗

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 日 represents the meaning and 音 represents the sound. Simplified form of 晻.

Memory Hint

sun

Semantic (meaning)日
+
Phonetic (sound)音
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 暗?

Decomposition of 暗

IDS Structure⿰日音
暗Full Character
=
日Ri4
left
音yin1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 暗?

Write 暗

暗

Practice writing 暗 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 暗

暗 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 8 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.

Related grammar lessons3
Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

天空中的闪电忽明忽____，照亮了整个夜空。

The lightning in the sky flickered between bright and dark, illuminating the whole night sky.

Common Confusions with 暗

暗vs按
àn

Similar sound and shape but different meaning

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "to close (a door)"?

or

Example Sentences for 暗 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
黑暗中我的听觉变得异常灵敏。

hēi àn zhōng wǒ de tīng jué biàn dé yì cháng líng mǐn。

In the dark my sense of hearing becomes so acute.
2
这种葡萄酒色泽深暗悦目，是中等浓郁至浓香型的。

zhè zhǒng pú táo jiǔ sè zé shēn àn yuè mù， ， shì zhōng děng nóng yù zhì nóng xiāng xíng。

With a nice dark colour, the wine is medium to full bodied.
3
我所从事的职业中暗藏着如此深的种族主义偏见，这让我感到害怕。

wǒ suǒ cóng shì de zhí yè zhōng àn cáng zháo rú cǐ shēn de zhǒng zú zhǔ yì piān jiàn， ， zhè ràng wǒ gǎn dào hài。

The depth of covert racism in my own profession frightens me.
4
在黑暗和嘈杂的声音中，婴儿饱受惊吓。

zài hēi àn hé cáo zá de shēng yīn zhōng， ， yīng ér bǎo shòu jīng。

The baby was filled with alarm at the darkness and the noise.
5
我们看见又有两只野猫在黑暗中悄悄向我们靠近。

wǒ mén kàn jiàn yòu yǒu liǎng zhī yě māo zài hēi àn zhōng qiǎo qiǎo xiàng wǒ mén kào jìn。

We saw two more wild cats creeping towards us in the darkness.
6
有人暗示他是个种族主义者，他对此十分恼火。

yǒu rén àn shì tā shì gè zhǒng zú zhǔ yì zhě， ， tā duì cǐ shí fēn nǎo。

He bristled with indignation at the suggestion that he was racist.
7
他暗示我们妄自尊大地以为自己是个足球民族。

tā àn shì wǒ mén wàng zì zūn dà dì yǐ wéi zì jǐ shì gè zú qiú mín zú。

He suggested that we suffer delusions of grandeur as a football nation.
8
她暗自担心自己是不是真的有那么好。

tā àn zì dān xīn zì jǐ shì bù shì zhēn de yǒu nà mó hǎo。

Privately, she worries about whether she's really good enough.
9
他独自一人住在伦敦一间昏暗的客卧两用出租屋里。

tā dú zì yī rén zhù zài lún dūn yī jiān hūn àn de kè wò liǎng yòng chū zū wū lǐ。

He was living alone in a dingy bedsit in London.
10
他暗地里下定决心要给她买那件衣服。

tā àn dì lǐ xià dìng jué xīn yào gěi tā mǎi nà jiàn yī fú。

He had privately resolved he would buy her the dress.

Cultural Notes for 暗

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of secrecy and hidden meanings is significant, often reflected in literature and philosophy. The idea of 'darkness' can symbolize ignorance or a lack of enlightenment, which is a common theme in traditional Chinese thought.

Word Family of 暗

Words Containing This Character20
暗àndark
黑暗hēi’àndark
暗示ànshìto hint
暗杀ànshāto assassinate暗殺
暗中ànzhōngin the dark
阴暗yīn’àndim陰暗
暗暗secretly
暗号countersign暗號
暗自inwardly
暗算to plot against
昏暗dusky
暗地里àndìlǐsecretly暗地裡
暗器concealed weapon
暗藏to hide
暗淡dark
暗语code word暗語
灰暗drab
暗处secret place暗處
暗影shadow
暗礁submerged reef (rock)
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 暗 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 暗

Some synonyms for 暗 (àn) include 黑暗 (hēi'àn), which means 'darkness,' and 阴暗 (yīn'àn), meaning 'dim' or 'gloomy.' These words can be used interchangeably depending on the context.