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巔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
巔diānmountain peak, mountain topzg, 22 strokes, radical 山, rank #59129, Very Hard
diān(dian1) T1
  1. 1mountain peak, mountain top
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March 24, 2026

巔diān(dian1)

The character 巔 (diān) refers to the peak or top of a mountain. It is commonly used to describe the highest point of a mountainous region, often symbolizing achievement or a pinnacle in various contexts, such as personal goals or physical challenges.

Strokes22Radical山Frequency#59129DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, reaching the peak of a mountain is often associated with personal growth and overcoming challenges, reflecting the value placed on perseverance in achieving one's goals.

Memory Tip

Imagine a steep mountain (山) with a flag at its peak (巔) signifying conquest. The character resembles a mountain with its highest point highlighted, and you can remember its pronunciation 'diān' by thinking of 'dean' as someone who reaches the top of academic achievements.

Meanings of 巔

diān(dian1)
1mountain peak, mountain top
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 巔 means.

About 巔

巔Simplified
22Strokes
山Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 巔

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Podcast: 巔

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AI Study Notes for 巔

Quick Contrast

顶 (dǐng) refers to the top or peak in a more general sense, while 巔 (diān) specifically emphasizes the highest point of a mountain.

Usage Notes

This character is often found in formal contexts such as literature and geography. Common collocations include phrases like '山巔' (mountain peak) and '巔峰' (pinnacle). Pay attention to the tone; the first tone can be mistakenly pronounced as a fourth tone.

HSK Study Tips

While 巔 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects well with other mountain-related vocabulary at HSK level 3, such as 山 (shān, mountain) and 高 (gāo, tall). Focus on understanding its use in compound words and phrases.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 巔 with 顶 (dǐng), both meaning 'top,' but they are used in different contexts. For example, saying '我喜欢这座山的顶' (Wǒ xǐhuān zhè zuò shān de dǐng) is correct, but using 巔 here would sound unnatural.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 巔

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Jason Explains 巔 to You

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Etymology of 巔

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

The top 顛 of a mountain 山; 顛 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 巔?

Decomposition of 巔

IDS Structure⿱山顛
巔Full Character
=
山Shan1
top
顛dian1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 巔?

How to say mountain peak, mountain top in Chinese

“mountain peak, mountain top” in Chinese is巔diān

The character 巔 (diān) refers to the peak or top of a mountain. It is commonly used to describe the highest point of a mountainous region, often symbolizing achievement or a pinnacle in various contexts, such as personal goals or physical challenges.

When to use 巔

This character is often found in formal contexts such as literature and geography. Common collocations include phrases like '山巔' (mountain peak) and '巔峰' (pinnacle). Pay attention to the tone; the first tone can be mistakenly pronounced as a fourth tone.

巔 or something close to it

顶 (dǐng) refers to the top or peak in a more general sense, while 巔 (diān) specifically emphasizes the highest point of a mountain.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 巔 with 顶 (dǐng), both meaning 'top,' but they are used in different contexts. For example, saying '我喜欢这座山的顶' (Wǒ xǐhuān zhè zuò shān de dǐng) is correct, but using 巔 here would sound unnatural.

Write 巔

巔

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

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Word Family of 巔

Words Containing This Character3
巅峰diānfēngsummit巔峰
巅diānsummit巔
山巅summit山巔
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 巔

What does 巅峰 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 巔

You can say '我们爬到了山巔' (Wǒmen pá dào le shān diān), meaning 'We climbed to the mountain peak.'

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