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偿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
偿
cháng
to repay
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #10108, Very Hard
偿
cháng
to compensate for
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #10108, Very Hard
偿
cháng
to recompense
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #10108, Very Hard
偿
cháng
to fulfill (hopes etc)
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #10108, Very Hard
偿
cháng
to repay, to recompense; restitution
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 亻, rank #10108, Very Hard
cháng(chang2)chang T2
1to repay
2to compensate for
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March 24, 2026
偿(償)cháng(chang2)
The character 偿 (cháng) means to repay or compensate, often in the context of fulfilling obligations or restoring balance. It can refer to repaying debts or compensating for losses or unfulfilled hopes. The term conveys a sense of rectifying a situation or meeting expectations.
Strokes11Radical亻Frequency#10108DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of repaying debts or fulfilling promises is deeply rooted, often reflected in traditional values such as '信用' (xìnyòng, credit) and the importance of maintaining one's word.
Memory tip
Imagine a person named Chang who always keeps his promises. When he borrows a book, he repays it by returning it in perfect condition. Think of the character 偿 as a 'promise keeper' with the radical 亻 (person) suggesting human actions related to repayment.
Meanings of 偿
cháng(chang2)
1to repay
2to compensate for
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 偿 means.
About 偿
偿Simplified
償Traditional
11Strokes
亻Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#10108Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 偿
Podcast: 偿
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AI study notes for 偿
Quick Contrast
偿 (cháng) vs 还 (huán) — use 偿 when emphasizing the act of compensating or repaying in a broader sense, while 还 focuses more on returning something to its original owner.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 偿 with 偿 (also pronounced cháng) which has a similar meaning but is more commonly used in specific contexts. This word is neutral in register and can be used in both formal and informal situations. Be careful with pronunciation, as it can be easily mixed up with similar-sounding characters.
HSK Study Tips
Although 偿 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it connects to vocabulary related to finance and obligations that appear in HSK 4 and above. Students should focus on its usage in sentences about debts and compensations to enhance their understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 偿 with similar characters like 赔 (péi, to compensate) or 还 (huán, to return), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我会赔你的钱' instead of '我会偿还你的钱' can change the meaning significantly.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 偿
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Knowing 偿 is seven skills, not one.
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偿 = 亻 + 尝. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 偿
IDS Structure⿰亻尝
偿Full character
=
亻ren2
left
尝chang2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 偿?
How to say to repay in Chinese
“to repay” in Chinese is偿cháng
The character 偿 (cháng) means to repay or compensate, often in the context of fulfilling obligations or restoring balance. It can refer to repaying debts or compensating for losses or unfulfilled hopes. The term conveys a sense of rectifying a situation or meeting expectations.
When to use 偿
Common mistakes include confusing 偿 with 偿 (also pronounced cháng) which has a similar meaning but is more commonly used in specific contexts. This word is neutral in register and can be used in both formal and informal situations. Be careful with pronunciation, as it can be easily mixed up with similar-sounding characters.
偿 or something close to it
偿 (cháng) vs 还 (huán) — use 偿 when emphasizing the act of compensating or repaying in a broader sense, while 还 focuses more on returning something to its original owner.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 偿 with similar characters like 赔 (péi, to compensate) or 还 (huán, to return), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我会赔你的钱' instead of '我会偿还你的钱' can change the meaning significantly.
Write 偿
偿
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Practice writing 偿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 偿
偿 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 5 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.
该公司不得不为裁员支付4.72亿英镑的补____款。
The company has had to make redundancy payments of £472 million.
The newspaper is fighting a damages action brought by the actress.
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Cultural Notes for 偿
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, repaying debts is also important, but the nuances of personal honor and familial obligations may vary significantly compared to Chinese traditions.
Word Family of 偿
Words containing this character17
补偿bǔchángto compensate補償
赔偿péichángto compensate賠償
偿还chánghuánto repay償還
偿chángto repay償
无偿wúchángfree無償
赔偿金péichángjīncompensation賠償金
如愿以偿rúyuànyǐchángto have one's wish fulfilled如願以償
有偿yǒuchángpaying有償
清偿qīngchángto redeem清償
偿命chángmìngto pay with one's life償命
得不偿失débùchángshīthe gains do not make up for the losses (idiom)得不償失
偿付chángfùto pay back償付
补偿费bǔchángfèicompensation補償費
抵偿dǐchángto compensate抵償
报偿bàochángrepay報償
偿债chángzhàito repay a debt償債
偿清chángqīngto repay償清
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 偿
What does 补偿 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 偿
You can use it like this: '我会偿还你的钱' (I will repay your money).
No, it can also refer to fulfilling promises or hopes, not just monetary debts.
Some synonyms include 还 (huán, to return) and 补偿 (bǔcháng, to compensate).
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