Meanings of 胭
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About 胭
Podcast: 胭
Podcast: 胭
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AI Study Notes for 胭
胭 (rouge) vs 粉 (powder) — choose 胭 when specifically referring to cheek color, while 粉 refers to face powder in general.
Imagine a beautiful woman applying a deep red blush called 'yān' on her cheeks. The character 胭 looks like a woman (the radical 女) enhancing her beauty with color, and the 'y' sound in yān can remind you of 'yarn' being spun into something beautiful.
While 胭 is specifically used for rouge, it is often used in more formal contexts related to cosmetics. A common mistake is confusing it with other terms for makeup; remember that 胭 is specifically for blush. Also, avoid using it in very casual conversations about makeup.
Although 胭 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other beauty-related words like 化妆 (huàzhuāng - makeup) and 美 (měi - beauty). Students should focus on the context of beauty and cosmetics to reinforce their understanding.
In traditional Chinese culture, the use of 胭 (rouge) has been prominent in historical beauty practices, particularly in operas and paintings, where exaggerated facial features were emphasized to convey emotions and character traits.
Learners often confuse 胭 with other makeup terms like 妆 (zhuāng - makeup) or 彩妆 (cǎizhuāng - cosmetics). For example, saying '我喜欢用妆' instead of '我喜欢用胭' is incorrect; use 胭 when specifically referring to rouge.
Pronunciation of 胭
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Etymology of 胭
flesh
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 胭?
Decomposition of 胭
Identify the Components
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Write 胭
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Practice writing 胭 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 胭
胭 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
将____脂调匀涂在你脸颊红润的地方。
Dust and blend blusher on the apples of your cheeks.
Example Sentences for 胭 (3)
Cultural Notes for 胭
In traditional Chinese culture, the use of 胭 (rouge) has been prominent in historical beauty practices, particularly in operas and paintings, where exaggerated facial features were emphasized to convey emotions and character traits.
Word Family of 胭
Compound Meaning
What does 胭脂 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 胭
It specifically refers to rouge or blush used on the cheeks.