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嬗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
嬗shànsuccession to the thronev, 16 strokes, radical 女
嬗shànchanges and successionunknown, 16 strokes, radical 女
shàn(shan4) T4
  1. 1succession to the throne
  2. 2changes and succession
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

嬗shàn(shan4)

The character 嬗 (shàn) refers to the act of succession, particularly in the context of passing down authority or leadership, such as the throne. It is often used in historical or formal discussions about dynastic changes and transitions of power, emphasizing the continuity and change within leadership roles.

Strokes16Radical女
Cultural Note

In Chinese history, the concept of succession holds immense significance, especially during dynastic changes, where legitimacy and continuity were paramount. The character 嬗 encapsulates this critical aspect of governance and the transfer of power.

Memory Tip

Imagine a royal crown being handed from one ruler to another in a grand ceremony. The character 嬗 has the radical for 'woman' (女) on the left, symbolizing the important role women often played in dynastic matters, while the right component suggests movement or change, connecting to the idea of succession.

Meanings of 嬗

shàn(shan4)
1succession to the throne
2changes and succession
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 嬗

嬗Simplified
16Strokes
女Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 嬗

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Podcast: 嬗

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AI Study Notes for 嬗

Usage Notes

This term is quite formal and typically found in historical texts or discussions about monarchy. Learners often confuse it with similar terms like 继承 (jìchéng), which also means 'inheritance' but has a broader application. Be cautious with the tonal pronunciation as it is a fourth tone, shàn.

HSK Study Tips

Although 嬗 is not included in the HSK levels, understanding it may enhance comprehension of historical texts. Students should focus on recognizing its use in context with other words related to governance and power, such as 王 (wáng - king) and 皇帝 (huángdì - emperor).

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 嬗 as shān due to a misunderstanding of the tone. It is crucial to remember that it is shàn, with a falling tone, to convey the correct meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 嬗

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Etymology of 嬗

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

woman

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 嬗

  1. 1The meaning half女 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half亶 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywoman
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 嬗? 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 嬗?

Decomposition of 嬗

IDS Structure⿰女亶
嬗Full Character
=
女nü3
left
亶Dan3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 嬗?

How to say succession to the throne in Chinese

“succession to the throne” in Chinese is嬗shàn

The character 嬗 (shàn) refers to the act of succession, particularly in the context of passing down authority or leadership, such as the throne. It is often used in historical or formal discussions about dynastic changes and transitions of power, emphasizing the continuity and change within leadership roles.

When to use 嬗

This term is quite formal and typically found in historical texts or discussions about monarchy. Learners often confuse it with similar terms like 继承 (jìchéng), which also means 'inheritance' but has a broader application. Be cautious with the tonal pronunciation as it is a fourth tone, shàn.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 嬗 as shān due to a misunderstanding of the tone. It is crucial to remember that it is shàn, with a falling tone, to convey the correct meaning.

Write 嬗

嬗

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 嬗

Words Containing This Character2
嬗变transmutation嬗變
嬗shànchanges and succession
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 嬗变 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 嬗

It is pronounced shàn, with a falling tone.

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