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黪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
黪cǎngrey-blackx, 20 strokes, radical 黑
黪cǎndarkunknown, 20 strokes, radical 黑
黪cǎndimunknown, 20 strokes, radical 黑
黪cǎngloomyunknown, 20 strokes, radical 黑
黪cǎnbleakunknown, 20 strokes, radical 黑
cǎn(can3) T3
  1. 1grey-black
  2. 2dark
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

黪(黲)cǎn(can3)

The character 黪 (cǎn) refers to a shade of color that is grey-black or dark, often used to describe dim or gloomy environments. It can convey a sense of bleakness or dullness, making it relevant in contexts discussing weather, moods, or aesthetics.

Strokes20Radical黑
Cultural Note

In Chinese art and poetry, colors often carry emotional significance. The use of 黪 can evoke feelings of melancholy or nostalgia, commonly found in traditional Chinese landscapes and literature, reflecting the beauty of bleakness.

Memory Tip

Think of the character 黪 as being made up of the radical for 'black' (黑) and a component that suggests dimness. Imagine a cloudy, gloomy day where the sky is a deep grey-black, creating a somber atmosphere that is easy to remember.

Meanings of 黪

cǎn(can3)
1grey-black
2dark
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 黪

黪Simplified
黲Traditional
20Strokes
黑Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 黪

JasonAmy

Podcast: 黪

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 黪

Usage Notes

When using 黪, be careful not to confuse it with other characters relating to color, such as 黑 (black) or 灰 (grey). It is more formal and less commonly used in everyday conversation but can appear in literature or descriptive writing. Pay attention to the third tone in pronunciation to avoid miscommunication.

HSK Study Tips

Although 黪 is not an HSK vocabulary word, students at higher levels should recognize it in readings. Focus on its tonal pronunciation and how it can enhance your descriptive language, especially in literary contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 黪 with 黑 (hēi) or 灰 (huī) when describing colors. For example, saying '我觉得今天的天气是黑' (I think today’s weather is black) should be corrected to '我觉得今天的天气是黪' to convey the intended meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 黪

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Etymology of 黪

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

black

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 黪

  1. 1The meaning half黑 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half参 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayblack
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 黪? 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 黪?

Decomposition of 黪

IDS Structure⿰黑参
黪Full Character
=
黑Hei1
left
参can1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 黪?

How to say grey-black in Chinese

“grey-black” in Chinese is黪cǎn

The character 黪 (cǎn) refers to a shade of color that is grey-black or dark, often used to describe dim or gloomy environments. It can convey a sense of bleakness or dullness, making it relevant in contexts discussing weather, moods, or aesthetics.

When to use 黪

When using 黪, be careful not to confuse it with other characters relating to color, such as 黑 (black) or 灰 (grey). It is more formal and less commonly used in everyday conversation but can appear in literature or descriptive writing. Pay attention to the third tone in pronunciation to avoid miscommunication.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 黪 with 黑 (hēi) or 灰 (huī) when describing colors. For example, saying '我觉得今天的天气是黑' (I think today’s weather is black) should be corrected to '我觉得今天的天气是黪' to convey the intended meaning.

Write 黪

黪

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 黪

黪 carries 5 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 1

Complete the Sentence

瀚海 阑干百丈冰, 愁云____淡万里凝.

" The sand - sea deepens with fathomless ice, And darkness masses its endless clouds ; "

Example Sentences for 黪 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
瀚海 阑干百丈冰, 愁云黪淡万里凝.

hàn hǎi lán gān bǎi zhàng, bīng , chóu yún cǎn dàn wàn.

" The sand - sea deepens with fathomless ice, And darkness masses its endless clouds ; "

Word Family of 黪

Words Containing This Character1
黪cǎndark黲
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 黪 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 黪

No, 黪 is more often found in literary contexts or when describing specific moods and environments.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 黪?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.