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旃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
旃zhānfelt; a silk banner on a bent poleg, 10 strokes, radical 方
旃zhānsilken bannerunknown, 10 strokes, radical 方
zhān(zhan1) T1
  1. 1felt; a silk banner on a bent pole
  2. 2silken banner
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March 24, 2026

旃zhān(zhan1)

The character 旃 (zhān) primarily refers to a type of felt or a silk banner, often used in ceremonial contexts. It can denote a fabric that is typically thicker and used for banners or covering, emphasizing its significance in traditional Chinese culture and religious practices.

Strokes10Radical方
Cultural Note

In ancient China, banners made of silk, represented by 旃, played a crucial role in military and religious ceremonies, symbolizing authority and attracting divine favor.

Memory Tip

Imagine a colorful silk banner fluttering in the wind, held aloft by a bent pole. The character 旃 looks like a banner waving in the air, with the top part resembling the flag fluttering and the bottom part reminiscent of a pole.

Meanings of 旃

zhān(zhan1)
1felt; a silk banner on a bent pole
2silken banner
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 旃 means.

About 旃

旃Simplified
10Strokes
方Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 旃

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Podcast: 旃

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AI Study Notes for 旃

Usage Notes

While 旃 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it appears in literary and historical contexts related to banners and fabrics. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; pay attention to the tone to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 旃 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is beneficial for learners interested in literature or traditional culture. Focus on recognizing its written form and understanding its cultural significance to enhance your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 旃 with similar characters like 斩 (zhǎn), which means 'to cut'. Remember that 旃 relates to fabrics and banners, while 斩 pertains to actions. A common error is to use 旃 in contexts related to cutting, which is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 旃

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Etymology of 旃

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

flag

Semantic (meaning)方
+
Phonetic (sound)丹
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

旃 = 方 + 丹. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 旃

IDS Structure⿰方⿱?丹
旃Full Character
=
方Fang1
left
丹dan1
top
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 旃?

How to say felt; a silk banner on a bent pole in Chinese

“felt; a silk banner on a bent pole” in Chinese is旃zhān

The character 旃 (zhān) primarily refers to a type of felt or a silk banner, often used in ceremonial contexts. It can denote a fabric that is typically thicker and used for banners or covering, emphasizing its significance in traditional Chinese culture and religious practices.

When to use 旃

While 旃 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it appears in literary and historical contexts related to banners and fabrics. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; pay attention to the tone to avoid misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 旃 with similar characters like 斩 (zhǎn), which means 'to cut'. Remember that 旃 relates to fabrics and banners, while 斩 pertains to actions. A common error is to use 旃 in contexts related to cutting, which is incorrect.

Write 旃

旃

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

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Word Family of 旃

Words Containing This Character1
旃zhānfelt

Frequently Asked Questions about 旃

In modern usage, 旃 is not commonly spoken but is recognized in historical or literary contexts, referring to silk banners or felt.

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