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暗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
暗
àn
to close (a door)
HSK 5, d, 13 strokes, radical 日, rank #2652, Hard
暗
àn
to eclipse
HSK 5, d, 13 strokes, radical 日, rank #2652, Hard
暗
àn
muddled
HSK 5, d, 13 strokes, radical 日, rank #2652, Hard
暗
àn
stupid
HSK 5, d, 13 strokes, radical 日, rank #2652, Hard
暗
àn
ignorant
HSK 5, d, 13 strokes, radical 日, rank #2652, Hard
暗
àn
dark, gloomy; obscure; secret, covert
HSK 5, d, 13 strokes, radical 日, rank #2652, Hard
暗
àn
hidden
HSK 5, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 日, rank #2652, Hard
暗
àn
in the dark
HSK 5, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 日, rank #2652, Hard
àn(an4)an T4
1to close (a door)
2to eclipse
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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#2652DifficultyHard
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
By ear
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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
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.
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.
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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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 暗 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.
暗 = 日 + 音. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 暗
IDS Structure⿰日音
暗Full character
=
日Ri4
left
音yin1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 暗?
How to say to close (a door) in Chinese
“to close (a door)” in Chinese is暗àn
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.
When to use 暗
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.
暗 or something close to it
暗 (àn) vs 黑 (hēi) — use 暗 for metaphorical darkness or secrecy, while 黑 refers specifically to the color black.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 暗
暗
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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.
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 dānxīn zìjǐ shìbùshì zhēnde yǒu nàme 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 dúzì yī rén zhùzài lún dūn yī jiān hūn àn de kè wò liǎng yòng chūzū 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 àndìlǐ xià dìng juéxīn yào gěi tā mǎi nà jiàn yīfu。
He had privately resolved he would buy her the dress.
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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àn’ànsecretly
暗号ànhàocountersign暗號
暗自ànzìinwardly
暗算ànsuànto plot against
昏暗hūn’àndusky
暗地里àndìlǐsecretly暗地裡
暗器ànqìconcealed weapon
暗藏àncángto hide
暗淡àndàndark
暗语ànyǔcode word暗語
灰暗huī’àndrab
暗处ànchùsecret place暗處
暗影ànyǐngshadow
暗礁ànjiāosubmerged reef (rock)
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 暗
What does 黑暗 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.
Yes, 暗 (àn) is used in several idioms and phrases in Chinese. For example, '暗中观察' (àn zhōng guānchá) means 'to observe in secret.' This illustrates how the character is associated with secrecy and hidden actions.
暗 (àn) means 'dark' or 'gloomy' in Chinese. It can also refer to something that is hidden, secret, or obscure. This character is commonly used in various contexts, such as describing a lack of light or a secretive situation.
You can use 暗 (àn) in sentences to describe something that is dark or hidden. For example, you might say '这个房间很暗' (zhège fángjiān hěn àn), meaning 'This room is very dark.' It can also be used metaphorically to describe unclear situations.
You can say '这个房间很暗' (Zhège fángjiān hěn àn) to mean 'This room is very dark.'
Yes, 暗 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing obscure ideas or hidden meanings.
Yes, synonyms include 模糊 (móhú - blurry, vague) and 隐秘 (yǐnmì - secret, hidden).
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