Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
浅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
浅
jiān
sound of moving water
HSK 5, a, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #5742, Hard
浅
jiān
shallow
HSK 5, a, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #5742, Hard
浅
jiān
light (color)
HSK 5, a, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #5742, Hard
浅
jiān
shallow, superficial
HSK 5, a, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #5742, Hard
浅
qiǎn
sound of moving water
HSK 5, a, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #5742, Hard
浅
qiǎn
shallow
HSK 5, a, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #5742, Hard
浅
qiǎn
light (color)
HSK 5, a, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #5742, Hard
浅
qiǎn
shallow, superficial
HSK 5, a, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #5742, Hard
jiān(jian1)jian
primary
T1
1sound of moving water
2shallow
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
浅(淺)jiān(jian1)
The character 浅 (jiān) primarily means 'shallow' and can refer to both physical depth and metaphorical superficiality, such as in knowledge or emotion. It is often used in contexts involving water, colors, or discussions about the depth of understanding. The nuance includes a sense of being not deep or profound, both literally and figuratively.
Strokes8Radical氵Frequency#5742DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese literature and art, the concept of 浅 often relates to the appreciation of subtlety and simplicity, reflecting a cultural preference for understated beauty rather than overt display.
Memory tip
Imagine a shallow pond (浅) where you can easily see the bottom. The left part of the character, 水 (water), suggests its connection to liquid, while the right part sounds like 'jian'—think of a 'gentle' splash as the water is not deep.
Meanings of 浅
jiān(jian1)
primary
1sound of moving water
2shallow
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 浅 means.
About 浅
浅Simplified
淺Traditional
8Strokes
氵Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#5742Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 浅
Podcast: 浅
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 浅
Quick Contrast
浅 (shallow) vs 浅薄 (superficial) — use 浅 for physical depth or general lack of profundity, while 浅薄 specifically implies a lack of depth in understanding or character.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 浅 with 深 (shēn), which means 'deep.' Be aware of the context, as 浅 can have both positive and negative connotations depending on usage. It is generally informal, so in formal writing, it's best to use more precise terms.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 浅 connects with other words describing depth and quality, such as 深 (deep) and 流 (to flow). Students should focus on contextual usage and practice using it in sentences to describe both physical and metaphorical contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 浅 with its antonym 深, mistakenly using 浅 when they mean to describe something profound or deep. For example, saying 浅的知识 (shallow knowledge) instead of 深的知识 (deep knowledge).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 浅
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 浅, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 浅 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 浅?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 浅 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.
浅 = 氵 + 戋. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 浅
IDS Structure⿰氵戋
浅Full character
=
氵shui3
left
戋jian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 浅?
How to say sound of moving water in Chinese
“sound of moving water” in Chinese is浅jiān
The character 浅 (jiān) primarily means 'shallow' and can refer to both physical depth and metaphorical superficiality, such as in knowledge or emotion. It is often used in contexts involving water, colors, or discussions about the depth of understanding. The nuance includes a sense of being not deep or profound, both literally and figuratively.
When to use 浅
Common mistakes include confusing 浅 with 深 (shēn), which means 'deep.' Be aware of the context, as 浅 can have both positive and negative connotations depending on usage. It is generally informal, so in formal writing, it's best to use more precise terms.
浅 or something close to it
浅 (shallow) vs 浅薄 (superficial) — use 浅 for physical depth or general lack of profundity, while 浅薄 specifically implies a lack of depth in understanding or character.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 浅 with its antonym 深, mistakenly using 浅 when they mean to describe something profound or deep. For example, saying 浅的知识 (shallow knowledge) instead of 深的知识 (deep knowledge).
Write 浅
浅
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 浅 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 浅
浅 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 4 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.
The brook flows through the forest, emitting gentle sounds, like soft whispers.
14
雨后，溪水流过石头，发出浅浅的水声，清新悦耳。
Yǔhòu, xīshuǐ liúguò shítou, fāchū qiǎnqiǎn de shuǐshēng, qīngxīn yuè'ěr.
After the rain, the stream flows over the stones, making a gentle sound, refreshing and pleasant.
15
傍晚，河水流动的浅声在寂静的乡村中回荡，令人心安。
Bàngwǎn, héshuǐ liúdòng de qiǎnshēng zài jìjìng de xiāngcūn zhōng huídàng, lìng rén xīn'ān.
In the evening, the gentle sound of the flowing river echoes in the quiet countryside, bringing peace to the heart.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 浅?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Word Family of 浅
Words containing this character20
浅jiānshallow淺
肤浅fūqiǎnskin-deep膚淺
搁浅gēqiǎnto run aground擱淺
浅薄qiǎnbósuperficial淺薄
浅色qiǎnsèlight color淺色
受益匪浅shòuyì-fěiqiǎnto benefit (from)受益匪淺
深浅shēnqiǎndeep or shallow深淺
浅水qiǎnshuǐshallow water淺水
目光短浅mùguāngduǎnqiǎnto be shortsighted目光短淺
浅显qiǎnxiǎnplain淺顯
浅滩qiǎntānshallows淺灘
浅海qiǎnhǎishallow sea淺海
粗浅cūqiǎnshallow粗淺
深入浅出shēnrùqiǎnchū(of language) simple and easy to understand深入淺出
害人不浅hàirénbùqiǎnto cause a lot of trouble害人不淺
短浅duǎnqiǎnnarrow and shallow短淺
浅析qiǎnxīprimary, elementary or coarse analysis淺析
浅尝辄止qiǎnchángzhézhǐto attempt half-heartedly淺嚐輒止
浅见qiǎnjiànshallow opinion淺見
浅淡qiǎndànpale淺淡
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 浅
What does 肤浅 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 浅
Some synonyms for 浅 (qiǎn) include 浅薄 (qiǎnbó), which means shallow or superficial, and 淺淡 (qiǎndàn), which refers to light or pale colors. These words can be used interchangeably in certain contexts, especially when describing depth or color.
浅 (qiǎn) means shallow, while 深 (shēn) means deep. These two characters are often used to describe opposite characteristics, such as the depth of water or intensity of color. Understanding the difference is crucial for correctly expressing concepts related to depth and shade in Chinese.
浅 (qiǎn) means 'shallow' in Chinese and is often used to describe water depth. It can also refer to a light color, such as pale blue or light pink. The character can be used in various contexts, including describing the depth of a body of water or the shade of a color.
You can use 浅 (qiǎn) in sentences such as '这条河很浅' which means 'This river is very shallow.' Another example is '我喜欢浅色的衣服', meaning 'I like light-colored clothes.' It’s important to understand the context when using this word.
You might come across 浅水 (shallow water) or 浅显 (easy to understand).
Yes, it can describe light colors in a positive way, such as 浅蓝 (light blue).
Focus on the context: 浅 refers to shallowness, while 深 (shēn) means depth.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 浅?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
