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轗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
轗kǎnto fail; to face misfortunex, 20 strokes, radical 車
轗kǎnto be unable to reach one's aimunknown, 20 strokes, radical 車
轗kǎnto be full of misfortuneunknown, 20 strokes, radical 車
kǎn(kan3) T3
  1. 1to fail; to face misfortune
  2. 2to be unable to reach one's aim
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

轗kǎn(kan3)

The character 轗 (kǎn) conveys a sense of failure or misfortune, often suggesting an inability to achieve one's goals. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is facing setbacks or challenges that hinder progress, reflecting a deeper emotional resonance with hardship.

Strokes20Radical車
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of facing misfortune is often expressed through proverbs and literature, emphasizing resilience. The character 轗 reflects the broader cultural narrative around overcoming obstacles and the importance of perseverance.

Memory Tip

Imagine a heavy, rusty wheel (轗) stuck in mud, unable to move forward. The sound 'kǎn' is like the frustrated groan of a person who can't reach their destination, reinforcing the struggle and misfortune associated with this character.

Meanings of 轗

kǎn(kan3)
1to fail; to face misfortune
2to be unable to reach one's aim
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 轗

轗Simplified
20Strokes
車Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 轗

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Podcast: 轗

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AI Study Notes for 轗

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 轗 with similar-sounding characters. It is used in more formal contexts, often in literature or discussions about adversity. Be careful with the tone; mispronouncing it can change the meaning significantly.

HSK Study Tips

While 轗 is not in the HSK curriculum, understanding it can enhance your vocabulary related to challenges and setbacks. Focus on its usage in conjunction with other words describing misfortune, as this will help you grasp its nuances.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 轗 with 观察 (guānchá) meaning 'to observe,' leading to incorrect usage in sentences about watching. Always remember that 轗 relates specifically to failure and misfortune.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 轗

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Etymology of 轗

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

cart

Semantic (meaning)車
+
Phonetic (sound)感
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 轗

  1. 1The meaning half車 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half感 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaycart
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 轗? 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 轗?

Decomposition of 轗

IDS Structure⿰車感
轗Full Character
=
車che1
left
感gan3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 轗?

How to say to fail; to face misfortune in Chinese

“to fail; to face misfortune” in Chinese is轗kǎn

The character 轗 (kǎn) conveys a sense of failure or misfortune, often suggesting an inability to achieve one's goals. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is facing setbacks or challenges that hinder progress, reflecting a deeper emotional resonance with hardship.

When to use 轗

Learners often confuse 轗 with similar-sounding characters. It is used in more formal contexts, often in literature or discussions about adversity. Be careful with the tone; mispronouncing it can change the meaning significantly.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 轗 with 观察 (guānchá) meaning 'to observe,' leading to incorrect usage in sentences about watching. Always remember that 轗 relates specifically to failure and misfortune.

Write 轗

轗

Practice writing 轗 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 轗

Some synonyms include 失败 (shībài) meaning 'failure' and 灾难 (zāinàn) meaning 'disaster', which also reflect negative outcomes.

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