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偃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
偃yǎnto cease, to lay down, to lay offzg, 11 strokes, radical 亻
偃yǎnto stopunknown, 11 strokes, radical 亻
偃yǎnto fall downunknown, 11 strokes, radical 亻
偃yǎnsurname Yanunknown, 11 strokes, radical 亻
yǎn(Yan3) T3
  1. 1to cease, to lay down, to lay off
  2. 2to stop
Also a Chinese surname, Yan — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

偃yǎn(Yan3)

The character 偃 (yǎn) primarily means to cease or lay down, often used in contexts where something is brought to a stop or is laid to rest. It can also refer to a surname in Chinese culture. The nuance of this term suggests a gentle or deliberate cessation rather than a sudden halt.

Strokes11Radical亻
Cultural Note

In ancient Chinese texts, the concept of laying down or ceasing activities is often associated with peace and contemplation, reflecting the value placed on rest and reflection in Chinese philosophy.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person laying down to rest after a long day, embodying the essence of 'ceasing' activities. The character 偃 features the radical 亻 (person) on the left, reminding you that it's a person who lays down and stops their activities.

Meanings of 偃

yǎn(Yan3)
1to cease, to lay down, to lay off
2to stop
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 偃

偃Simplified
11Strokes
亻Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 偃

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Podcast: 偃

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AI Study Notes for 偃

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 偃 with similar-looking characters or using it in overly formal contexts. It is generally used in literary or historical contexts rather than in everyday conversation, so be cautious of its register.

HSK Study Tips

While 偃 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your grasp of more advanced characters and phrases. Focus on its usage in classical texts to see how it connects with other literary expressions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 偃 with 停 (tíng) which also means to stop but lacks the gentle nuance. For example, saying '他停下来' (tā tíng xià lái) instead of '他偃下来' (tā yǎn xià lái) misses the subtlety of laying down peacefully.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 偃

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Etymology of 偃

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

person

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

Origin

偃 = 亻 + 匽. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 偃

IDS Structure⿰亻匽
偃Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
匽yan3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 偃?

How to say to cease, to lay down, to lay off in Chinese

“to cease, to lay down, to lay off” in Chinese is偃yǎn

The character 偃 (yǎn) primarily means to cease or lay down, often used in contexts where something is brought to a stop or is laid to rest. It can also refer to a surname in Chinese culture. The nuance of this term suggests a gentle or deliberate cessation rather than a sudden halt.

When to use 偃

Common mistakes include confusing 偃 with similar-looking characters or using it in overly formal contexts. It is generally used in literary or historical contexts rather than in everyday conversation, so be cautious of its register.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 偃 with 停 (tíng) which also means to stop but lacks the gentle nuance. For example, saying '他停下来' (tā tíng xià lái) instead of '他偃下来' (tā yǎn xià lái) misses the subtlety of laying down peacefully.

Write 偃

偃

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

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Word Family of 偃

Words Containing This Character4
偃yǎnto stop
偃旗息鼓to give in
偃师Yanshi county level city in Luoyang 洛陽|洛阳, Henan偃師
偃师市Yanshi county level city in Luoyang 洛陽|洛阳, Henan偃師市
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 偃

What does 偃旗息鼓 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 偃

You might say '他在树下假寐,像是要偃下了' (He is napping under the tree, as if he wishes to cease for a moment).

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