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March 24, 2026
盹dǔn(dun3)
The character 盹 (dǔn) refers to a light sleep or dozing off, often used to describe a brief nap or a momentary lapse into sleep. It is commonly used in informal contexts, particularly when someone is resting momentarily, such as during a meeting or on a bus.
Strokes9Radical目Frequency#12623DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, taking a nap during the day is often seen as a normal practice, especially in workplaces or schools. Many Chinese people value rest as an essential part of maintaining health and productivity.
Memory Tip
Imagine a sleepy owl (the radical 目 for 'eye') that dozes off during the day. The shape of 盹 resembles an eye closing slowly, hinting at the act of dozing off. You can remember 'dǔn' by imagining the sound of a gentle snore as the owl falls asleep.
Meanings of 盹
dǔn(dun3)
1to doze, to nap, to nod off
2doze
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 盹
盹Simplified
9Strokes
目Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 盹
Podcast: 盹
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AI Study Notes for 盹
Quick Contrast
瞌睡 (kē shuì) - use 盹 (dǔn) for a brief, casual doze; use 瞌睡 (kē shuì) for a more general term for drowsiness or the act of dozing off.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a sleepy owl (the radical 目 for 'eye') that dozes off during the day. The shape of 盹 resembles an eye closing slowly, hinting at the act of dozing off. You can remember 'dǔn' by imagining the sound of a gentle snore as the owl falls asleep.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 盹 with 睡 (shuì), which means 'to sleep' more generally. 盹 is informal and should be used in casual conversations rather than formal writing. Common collocations include 盹一会儿 (duǐn yī huìr) meaning 'take a short nap.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 盹 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it relates to other sleep-related words like 睡觉 (shuìjiào) and 梦 (mèng). Students should focus on recognizing the context in which this character can be used, especially in spoken Chinese.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, taking a nap during the day is often seen as a normal practice, especially in workplaces or schools. Many Chinese people value rest as an essential part of maintaining health and productivity.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 盹 in contexts where they mean to refer to a full sleep, such as saying '我昨晚盹得很好' (Wǒ zuó wǎn dǔn de hěn hǎo), which should be '我昨晚睡得很好' (Wǒ zuó wǎn shuì de hěn hǎo) meaning 'I slept well last night.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 盹
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Grammar Patterns of 盹
盹 carries 3 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 5
Complete the Sentence
基根决定打个____儿，这在他来说可是比较少见的。
Uncharacteristically for Keegan, he decided to have a snooze.
With the shutters half-closed and the calm airy height of the room to lull me, I soon fell into a doze.
Cultural Notes for 盹
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, taking a nap during the day is often seen as a normal practice, especially in workplaces or schools. Many Chinese people value rest as an essential part of maintaining health and productivity.
Word Family of 盹
Words Containing This Character2
打盹to doze off
盹dǔndoze
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 打盹 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 盹
No, 盹 is typically used in informal contexts, so it's better suited for casual conversation rather than formal writing.
No, 盹 specifically refers to dozing or a short nap, while 睡觉 (shuìjiào) would be used for longer sleep.
