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孨 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
孨zhuǎncautious, cowardly, weak; an orphanzg, 9 strokes, radical 子
zhuǎn(zhuan3) T3
  1. 1cautious, cowardly, weak; an orphan
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March 24, 2026

孨zhuǎn(zhuan3)

The character 孨 (zhuǎn) conveys meanings related to being cautious, cowardly, or weak. It can also refer to an orphan, emphasizing vulnerability and dependence. This character is not commonly used in modern Mandarin, and understanding its nuances may require familiarity with classical texts or historical contexts.

Strokes9Radical子
Cultural Note

The concept of being an orphan is significant in Chinese culture, often depicted in literature and folklore, highlighting themes of vulnerability and the need for community support. The character 孨 reflects the traditional view of orphans as individuals requiring care and protection.

Memory Tip

Imagine a timid child (the orphan, 孨) who is too afraid to venture far from home. The character's components suggest a sense of fragility, as the '子' (child) radical indicates youth or dependency, while the surrounding elements create an image of caution.

Meanings of 孨

zhuǎn(zhuan3)
1cautious, cowardly, weak; an orphan
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 孨

孨Simplified
9Strokes
子Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 孨

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Podcast: 孨

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AI Study Notes for 孨

Usage Notes

Due to its rarity, 孨 is mostly found in literary or historical contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Learners should be cautious with its usage to avoid sounding overly formal or archaic. It's important to note that it might be confused with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to tones.

HSK Study Tips

Since 孨 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on more commonly used synonyms that express caution or weakness. Understanding this character can deepen comprehension of classical literature where it appears, providing context to the emotional weight of orphans in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 孨 with similar characters like 孙 (sūn, meaning 'grandson') due to the similar structure. It's important to remember that 孨 conveys weakness and vulnerability, rather than lineage or family connections.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 孨

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Etymology of 孨

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Many abandoned children 子 representing an orphanage

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 孨

  1. 1The giveawayMany abandoned children 子 representing an orphanage
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 孨? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 孨?

Decomposition of 孨

IDS Structure⿱子⿰子子
孨Full Character
=
子zi3
top
子zi3
left
子zi3
right
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 孨?

How to say cautious, cowardly, weak; an orphan in Chinese

“cautious, cowardly, weak; an orphan” in Chinese is孨zhuǎn

The character 孨 (zhuǎn) conveys meanings related to being cautious, cowardly, or weak. It can also refer to an orphan, emphasizing vulnerability and dependence. This character is not commonly used in modern Mandarin, and understanding its nuances may require familiarity with classical texts or historical contexts.

When to use 孨

Due to its rarity, 孨 is mostly found in literary or historical contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Learners should be cautious with its usage to avoid sounding overly formal or archaic. It's important to note that it might be confused with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to tones.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 孨 with similar characters like 孙 (sūn, meaning 'grandson') due to the similar structure. It's important to remember that 孨 conveys weakness and vulnerability, rather than lineage or family connections.

Write 孨

孨

Practice writing 孨 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 孨

No, 孨 is rarely used in everyday speech and is more often found in literary contexts.

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