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脣 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
脣chúnlipsx, 11 strokes, radical ⺼
chún(chun2) T2
  1. 1lips
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

脣chún(chun2)

The character 脣 (chún) refers to 'lips.' It is commonly used in both everyday conversations and literary contexts when discussing aspects of the mouth, facial expressions, or beauty. This term may also appear in idiomatic expressions related to speech or attraction.

Strokes11Radical⺼
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, lips are often associated with beauty and femininity, frequently appearing in discussions of makeup and fashion. The phrase '唇红齿白' (chún hóng chǐ bái) describes a person with beautiful lips and white teeth, symbolizing attractiveness.

Memory Tip

Imagine a pair of luscious lips gently parted. The radical 脚 (foot) suggests that the lips are foundational to speaking, just as feet are foundational for walking. The sound 'chún' can be remembered with the phrase 'charming lips,' emphasizing both beauty and speech.

Meanings of 脣

chún(chun2)
1lips
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 脣

脣Simplified
11Strokes
⺼Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 脣

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Podcast: 脣

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AI Study Notes for 脣

Quick Contrast

嘴唇 (zuǐchún) vs 脣 (chún) — use 脣 for a more literary or formal context, while 嘴唇 is more common in everyday speech.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 脣 with similar-sounding characters like 餐 (cān, meal) due to their phonetic similarities. This term is generally informal but can also appear in poetry or songs. Be cautious with the fourth tone, as mispronunciation might lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 脣 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other body part terms like 口 (kǒu, mouth) and 面 (miàn, face) that are essential at lower levels. Focus on pronunciation and usage in context to enhance your speaking skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 脣 with other body part characters, such as 嘴 (zuǐ, mouth). It's important to remember that 脣 specifically refers to lips, while 嘴 encompasses the entire mouth. An incorrect usage would be saying '我很喜欢我的嘴' (wǒ hěn xǐhuān wǒ de zuǐ) when they mean to compliment their lips.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 脣

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Etymology of 脣

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

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 辰 represents the sound. Simplified form of 脣.

Memory Hint

flesh

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

Origin

脣 = ⺼ + 辰. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 脣

IDS Structure⿸辰⺼
脣Full Character
=
辰chen2
enclosing
⺼rou4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 脣?

How to say lips in Chinese

“lips” in Chinese is脣chún

The character 脣 (chún) refers to 'lips.' It is commonly used in both everyday conversations and literary contexts when discussing aspects of the mouth, facial expressions, or beauty. This term may also appear in idiomatic expressions related to speech or attraction.

When to use 脣

Common mistakes include confusing 脣 with similar-sounding characters like 餐 (cān, meal) due to their phonetic similarities. This term is generally informal but can also appear in poetry or songs. Be cautious with the fourth tone, as mispronunciation might lead to misunderstandings.

脣 or something close to it

嘴唇 (zuǐchún) vs 脣 (chún) — use 脣 for a more literary or formal context, while 嘴唇 is more common in everyday speech.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 脣 with other body part characters, such as 嘴 (zuǐ, mouth). It's important to remember that 脣 specifically refers to lips, while 嘴 encompasses the entire mouth. An incorrect usage would be saying '我很喜欢我的嘴' (wǒ hěn xǐhuān wǒ de zuǐ) when they mean to compliment their lips.

Write 脣

脣

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

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Word Family of 脣

Words Containing This Character20
唇chúnlip
嘴唇zuǐchúnlip
唇膏lip balm
兔唇hare lip (birth defect)
唇舌argument
下唇lower lip
唇枪舌剑fight a battle of words唇槍舌劍
上唇upper lip
反唇相讥to retort反唇相譏
唇齿interdependent唇齒
唇齿相依interdependent唇齒相依
阴唇labia陰唇
唇亡齿寒lit. without the lips, the teeth feel the cold (idiom); fig. intimately interdependent唇亡齒寒
费唇舌to argue needlessly費唇舌
白唇鹿Cervus albirostris (white-lipped deer)
驴唇不对马嘴fig. beside the point驢唇不對馬嘴
唇音labial consonant
内唇epipharynx (entomology)內唇
唇齿音labiodental (e.g. the consonant f in standard Chinese)唇齒音
双唇音bilabial consonant (b, p, or m)雙唇音
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 脣

What does 唇 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 脣

It is pronounced as 'chún' with a rising tone, similar to the English word 'chun' but with more emphasis on the 'u'.

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