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March 24, 2026
黔qián(Qian2)
The character 黔 (qián) primarily means 'black' and is often associated with the color's deeper, richer tones. It is also the abbreviation for Guizhou province in China, known for its mountainous terrain and cultural diversity. In this context, it carries geographical significance and can be used in discussions about regional identity.
Strokes16Radical黑
Cultural Note
Guizhou, represented by 黔, is famous for its rich ethnic diversity and natural beauty, such as the Huangguoshu Waterfall. This character evokes a sense of pride and identity for many who hail from this province.
Memory Tip
Imagine a dark black cloak (the meaning of 黔) worn by a wise sage from Guizhou. The cloak envelops him, symbolizing the depth of the province's culture, while the character's components suggest the color black, resembling shadows that hide secrets.
Meanings of 黔
qián(Qian2)
1black; the Guizhou province
2abbr. for Guizhou province 貴州|贵州[Gui4 zhou1]
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 黔
黔Simplified
16Strokes
黑Radical
简称abbreviation (abbr.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 黔
Podcast: 黔
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AI Study Notes for 黔
Usage Notes
When using 黔 to refer to Guizhou province, it is typically in formal or geographical contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with other characters for 'black,' such as 黑 (hēi), which is more general. Remember to use the correct tone, as the second syllable in 'qián' can be mispronounced.
HSK Study Tips
Although 黔 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful to learn in conjunction with other geographical terms. Students should focus on recognizing it in context, especially when discussing places or cultural aspects of Guizhou.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 黔 when they mean 黑 (hēi) for 'black' in everyday conversation. To correct this, remember that 黔 is more specific to the color's depth and is tied to cultural contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 黔
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Phonosemantic compound. 黑 represents the meaning and 今 represents the sound.
1The meaning half黑 carries the sense.
2The sound half今 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayblack
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 黔? 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 黔?
Decomposition of 黔
IDS Structure⿰黑今
黔Full Character
=
黑Hei1
left
今jin1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 黔?
How to say black; the Guizhou province in Chinese
“black; the Guizhou province” in Chinese is黔qián
The character 黔 (qián) primarily means 'black' and is often associated with the color's deeper, richer tones. It is also the abbreviation for Guizhou province in China, known for its mountainous terrain and cultural diversity. In this context, it carries geographical significance and can be used in discussions about regional identity.
When to use 黔
When using 黔 to refer to Guizhou province, it is typically in formal or geographical contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with other characters for 'black,' such as 黑 (hēi), which is more general. Remember to use the correct tone, as the second syllable in 'qián' can be mispronounced.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 黔 when they mean 黑 (hēi) for 'black' in everyday conversation. To correct this, remember that 黔 is more specific to the color's depth and is tied to cultural contexts.
Write 黔
黔
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Practice writing 黔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 黔
黔 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 2
Complete the Sentence
分三大方言: 湘西 、 ____东和川黔滇.
Three major dialects: western Hunan , eastern Guizhou , and Sichuan , Guizhou and Yunnan.
