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矾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
矾fánalumns, 8 strokes, radical 石, rank #62992, Very Hard
fán(fan2) T2
  1. 1alum
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March 24, 2026

矾(礬)fán(fan2)

The character 矾 (fán) refers to alum, a type of chemical compound that is often used in water purification, food processing, and even in some traditional Chinese medicine practices. It is commonly encountered in contexts related to chemistry, cooking, and crafting.

Strokes8Radical石Frequency#62992DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, alum is sometimes used as a remedy for certain ailments, showcasing its historical significance in Chinese health practices. It also appears in various food preservation techniques in Chinese culinary arts.

Memory Tip

Think of 矾 (fán) as a 'fan' that helps purify water. The radical 石 (shí) meaning stone suggests that it is a mineral. Imagine a stone fan blowing clean air, reminiscent of the process of purifying substances with alum.

Meanings of 矾

fán(fan2)
1alum
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 矾

矾Simplified
礬Traditional
8Strokes
石Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 矾

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Podcast: 矾

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AI Study Notes for 矾

Usage Notes

When using 矾 (fán), it is important to maintain the correct tone, as mispronunciation can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 矾土 (fán tǔ), meaning alum earth, which refers to a specific type of alum used in crafts. This word is more technical, so it's typically used in a formal context.

HSK Study Tips

Although 矾 (fán) is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to HSK vocabulary related to chemistry and materials. Students should focus on its usage in practical contexts, especially in discussions about cooking or water treatment.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 矾 (fán) with related terms like 硫 (liú), which means sulfur. A common mistake is using 矾 in contexts unrelated to its chemical nature; for example, saying '我喜欢矾的味道' (I like the taste of alum) is incorrect since alum is not typically consumed for taste.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 矾

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Etymology of 矾

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

mineral

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

Origin

矾 = 石 + 凡. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 矾

IDS Structure⿰石凡
矾Full Character
=
石dan4
left
凡fan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 矾?

How to say alum in Chinese

“alum” in Chinese is矾fán

The character 矾 (fán) refers to alum, a type of chemical compound that is often used in water purification, food processing, and even in some traditional Chinese medicine practices. It is commonly encountered in contexts related to chemistry, cooking, and crafting.

When to use 矾

When using 矾 (fán), it is important to maintain the correct tone, as mispronunciation can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 矾土 (fán tǔ), meaning alum earth, which refers to a specific type of alum used in crafts. This word is more technical, so it's typically used in a formal context.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 矾 (fán) with related terms like 硫 (liú), which means sulfur. A common mistake is using 矾 in contexts unrelated to its chemical nature; for example, saying '我喜欢矾的味道' (I like the taste of alum) is incorrect since alum is not typically consumed for taste.

Write 矾

矾

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

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Word Family of 矾

Words Containing This Character4
明矾alum明礬
矾fánalum礬
白矾alum白礬
绿矾green vitriol (ferrous sulfate FeSO4:7H2O)綠礬
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 矾

What does 明矾 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 矾

It means alum, a chemical compound used for various purposes including water purification.

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