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沉稳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
沉稳chénwěnsteadyHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #28720, Very Hard
沉稳chénwěncalmHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #28720, Very Hard
沉稳chénwěnunflusteredHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #28720, Very Hard
chénwěn(chen2wen3)chen wen T2
  1. 1steady
  2. 2calm
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March 24, 2026

沉稳(沉穩)chénwěn(chen2wen3)

沉稳 (chén wěn) describes a person who is steady, calm, and unflustered, particularly in stressful situations. It conveys a sense of composure and reliability, often admired in leaders or individuals facing challenges.

Strokes21Frequency#28720DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, being 沉稳 is highly valued, especially in leadership roles where maintaining calmness under pressure is seen as a sign of strength and wisdom. This trait is often associated with traditional Confucian values.

Memory tip

Imagine a heavy rock (沉) sitting in a calm pond (稳), representing a person who remains unshaken by the ripples of life. The sound 'chén' like 'chen' in 'chill' reminds you of staying cool under pressure.

Meanings of 沉稳

chénwěn(chen2wen3)
1steady
2calm
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About 沉稳

沉稳Simplified
沉穩Traditional
21Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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Podcast: 沉稳

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AI study notes for 沉稳

Quick Contrast

沉着 (chénzhuó) - use 沉稳 (chén wěn) when emphasizing steadiness and reliability in difficult situations, while 沉着 (chénzhuó) focuses more on calmness in the face of pressure without necessarily implying reliability.

Usage Notes

This term is typically used in formal contexts to describe personality traits or behaviors. Be careful not to confuse it with similar words like '冷静' (lěng jìng), which focuses more on being calm rather than steady. Remember to use the correct tones: 'chén' (2nd tone) and 'wěn' (3rd tone).

HSK Study Tips

While 沉稳 (chén wěn) may not appear on HSK lists, it connects to HSK Level 4 vocabulary related to emotions and personality, such as '自信' (zì xìn, confident) and '积极' (jī jí, positive). Focus on understanding how to describe personalities using adjectives.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce the tones, saying 'chen1 wen3' instead, which changes the meaning. Another mistake is using it with the wrong context; for example, saying '沉稳' to describe a chaotic environment, which is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 沉稳

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Component characters

沉chénto submerge
HSK 57 strokes氵
View full entry
稳wěnsettled
HSK 714 strokes禾
View full entry

How to say steady in Chinese

“steady” in Chinese is沉稳chénwěn

沉稳 (chén wěn) describes a person who is steady, calm, and unflustered, particularly in stressful situations. It conveys a sense of composure and reliability, often admired in leaders or individuals facing challenges.

When to use 沉稳

This term is typically used in formal contexts to describe personality traits or behaviors. Be careful not to confuse it with similar words like '冷静' (lěng jìng), which focuses more on being calm rather than steady. Remember to use the correct tones: 'chén' (2nd tone) and 'wěn' (3rd tone).

沉稳 or something close to it

沉着 (chénzhuó) - use 沉稳 (chén wěn) when emphasizing steadiness and reliability in difficult situations, while 沉着 (chénzhuó) focuses more on calmness in the face of pressure without necessarily implying reliability.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce the tones, saying 'chen1 wen3' instead, which changes the meaning. Another mistake is using it with the wrong context; for example, saying '沉稳' to describe a chaotic environment, which is incorrect.

Write 沉稳

沉
稳

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Frequently asked questions about 沉稳

No, 沉稳 is used specifically to describe people and their demeanor, not situations.

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