HSK 7, a, 12 strokes, radical 饣, rank #30375, Very Hard
馋
chán
greedy
HSK 7, a, 12 strokes, radical 饣, rank #30375, Very Hard
馋
chán
to have a craving
HSK 7, a, 12 strokes, radical 饣, rank #30375, Very Hard
馋
chán
greedy, gluttonous; lewd, lecherous
HSK 7, a, 12 strokes, radical 饣, rank #30375, Very Hard
chán(chan2) T2
1gluttonous
2greedy
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March 24, 2026
馋(饞)chán(chan2)
The character 馋 (chán) conveys a sense of greed or gluttony, often in relation to food or desires. It can describe someone who has a strong craving for something, particularly food, and can also have a negative connotation when referring to lewd desires. It is commonly used in contexts discussing indulgence or excessive longing.
Strokes12Radical饣Frequency#30375DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food holds significant social importance, often being a source of pleasure and celebration. The use of 馋 reflects a cultural appreciation for gourmet cuisine and the joy of sharing meals.
Memory Tip
Imagine a hungry person gazing longingly at a delicious feast, their mouth watering, embodying the craving represented by the character 馋. The radical 食 (shí), meaning 'food,' is a key component, reminding you of the strong connection between this character and desire related to food.
Meanings of 馋
chán(chan2)
1gluttonous
2greedy
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 馋
馋Simplified
饞Traditional
12Strokes
饣Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#30375Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 馋
Podcast: 馋
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AI Study Notes for 馋
Quick Contrast
馋 (chán) vs 渴 (kě) — use 馋 when referring to cravings for food or indulgence, while 渴 specifically refers to thirst.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a hungry person gazing longingly at a delicious feast, their mouth watering, embodying the craving represented by the character 馋. The radical 食 (shí), meaning 'food,' is a key component, reminding you of the strong connection between this character and desire related to food.
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 馋, as it can carry negative implications when describing someone's desires. It's more common in informal contexts, so be mindful of the tone when discussing such cravings. Collocations include phrases like '馋嘴' (chán zuǐ), meaning someone who can't resist tasty foods.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 馋 connects well with other vocabulary pertaining to emotions and desires. Students should focus on its nuances and how it can be used in both positive and negative contexts, especially when discussing indulgence or cravings.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food holds significant social importance, often being a source of pleasure and celebration. The use of 馋 reflects a cultural appreciation for gourmet cuisine and the joy of sharing meals.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 馋 with similar characters like 贪 (tān), which has a broader meaning of greed. For example, saying '我很馋钱' (wǒ hěn chán qián - 'I crave money') is incorrect; instead, use '我很贪钱' (wǒ hěn tān qián).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 馋
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Grammar Patterns of 馋
馋 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.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
你要是非常想吃巧克力，那就嚼根角豆条解____吧。
If you do yearn for chocolate, try a carob bar instead.
Xiao Ming is greedy, his eyes will glow whenever he sees meat.
8
看起来真馋人哪.
kàn qǐ lái zhēn chán rén nǎ.
It looks so inviting.
9
我的舌头馋好酒.
wǒ de shé tóu chán hǎo jiǔ.
My tongue became sensitized to good wine.
10
培根奶酪汉堡听起来很馋人.
péi gēn nǎi lào hàn bǎo tīng qǐ lái hěn chán rén.
The bacon cheeseburger sounds mouth - watering.
Cultural Notes for 馋
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, food holds significant social importance, often being a source of pleasure and celebration. The use of 馋 reflects a cultural appreciation for gourmet cuisine and the joy of sharing meals.
Word Family of 馋
Words Containing This Character8
馋chángreedy饞
馋嘴gluttonous饞嘴
解馋to eat to one's heart's content解饞
眼馋to covet眼饞
嘴馋gluttonous嘴饞
馋涎欲滴greedy饞涎欲滴
贪馋gluttonous貪饞
眼馋肚饱to have eyes bigger than one's belly (idiom)眼饞肚飽
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 馋 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 馋
Yes, while it's primarily associated with food, 馋 can also describe strong desires for other things, like material possessions.
It can be taken negatively, so use it with caution; it implies a lack of restraint.
While both can mean 'greedy,' 馋 is specifically about cravings, especially for food, whereas 贪 has a broader sense of greed, including material and moral aspects.
