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傘 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
傘sǎnumbrella, parasol, parachutezg, 12 strokes, radical 人
sǎn(san3) T3
  1. 1umbrella, parasol, parachute
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March 24, 2026

傘sǎn(san3)

The character 傘 (sǎn) refers to an umbrella, which is used for protection against rain or sun. It can also refer to a parasol, commonly used in outdoor settings, and in some contexts, it can mean a parachute, emphasizing the idea of protection or covering.

Strokes12Radical人
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, using an umbrella is common during both rainy and sunny days, often associated with maintaining one's complexion and health, especially among women who prefer to avoid sun exposure.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large umbrella (傘) that has a handle shaped like a person holding it above their head to stay dry. The character itself looks like a roof (the top part) protecting a person (the handle) from rain, reinforcing the idea of shelter.

Meanings of 傘

sǎn(san3)
1umbrella, parasol, parachute
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 傘 means.

About 傘

傘Simplified
12Strokes
人Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 傘

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Podcast: 傘

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AI Study Notes for 傘

Quick Contrast

伞 (sǎn) vs 遮 (zhē) — choose 傘 when specifically referring to an umbrella or parasol, while 遮 is more general for covering or shielding.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the pronunciation; it has a falling-rising tone (sǎn), which can be confused with similar-sounding words. In informal settings, you might hear colloquialisms related to umbrellas, such as using it metaphorically for protection in life.

HSK Study Tips

While 傘 is not listed in the standard HSK levels, it connects with other words related to weather and protection, such as 雨 (yǔ, rain) and 防 (fáng, to defend). Focus on the radicals and how they relate to themes of shelter and protection.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 傘 with other words related to rain. For instance, they might mistakenly use 雨 (yǔ) instead of 傘 when talking about 'umbrella.' The correct phrase is '我需要一把傘' (Wǒ xūyào yī bǎ sǎn) meaning 'I need an umbrella.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 傘

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Etymology of 傘

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 傘. Pictograph of an umbrella.

Memory Hint

People 人 huddling under an umbrella

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 傘?

Decomposition of 傘

IDS Structure⿱人⿻十?
傘Full Character
=
人ren2
top
十shi2
outer
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 傘?

How to say umbrella, parasol, parachute in Chinese

“umbrella, parasol, parachute” in Chinese is傘sǎn

The character 傘 (sǎn) refers to an umbrella, which is used for protection against rain or sun. It can also refer to a parasol, commonly used in outdoor settings, and in some contexts, it can mean a parachute, emphasizing the idea of protection or covering.

When to use 傘

Be cautious with the pronunciation; it has a falling-rising tone (sǎn), which can be confused with similar-sounding words. In informal settings, you might hear colloquialisms related to umbrellas, such as using it metaphorically for protection in life.

傘 or something close to it

伞 (sǎn) vs 遮 (zhē) — choose 傘 when specifically referring to an umbrella or parasol, while 遮 is more general for covering or shielding.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 傘 with other words related to rain. For instance, they might mistakenly use 雨 (yǔ) instead of 傘 when talking about 'umbrella.' The correct phrase is '我需要一把傘' (Wǒ xūyào yī bǎ sǎn) meaning 'I need an umbrella.'

Write 傘

傘

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

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Word Family of 傘

Words Containing This Character10
伞sǎnumbrella傘
跳伞tiàosǎnto parachute跳傘
降落伞parachute降落傘
雨伞umbrella雨傘
伞兵paratrooper傘兵
保护伞protective umbrella保護傘
阳伞parasol陽傘
滑翔伞paraglider滑翔傘
伞菌agaric傘菌
打伞to hold up an umbrella打傘
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 傘

What does 伞 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 傘

You can say '我忘了带傘' (Wǒ wàngle dài sǎn).

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