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簪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
簪zānhairpin, clasp; to wear in the hairzg, 18 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #76379, Very Hard
zān(zan1) T1
  1. 1hairpin, clasp; to wear in the hair
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March 24, 2026

簪zān(zan1)

The character 簪 (zān) refers to a hairpin or clasp used to secure hair, often seen in traditional Chinese hairstyles. It is commonly used in contexts related to beauty, fashion, and cultural ceremonies, where hair adornments play a significant role.

Strokes18Radical⺮Frequency#76379DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, hairpins like 簪 were not just practical items but also symbols of status and beauty, often given as gifts during important life events such as weddings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a graceful woman in ancient China, with her hair styled elegantly and held up by a beautiful hairpin (簪). The character 簪 looks like a person (the vertical stroke) holding a long pin (the horizontal strokes) to secure her hair, reminding you of both its shape and purpose.

Meanings of 簪

zān(zan1)
1hairpin, clasp; to wear in the hair
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 簪

簪Simplified
18Strokes
⺮Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 簪

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Podcast: 簪

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AI Study Notes for 簪

Quick Contrast

簪 (hairpin) vs 发夹 (hair clip) — use 簪 when referring to traditional or decorative hair accessories, while 发夹 is more general and often used for practical purposes.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 簪 with similar characters like 钗 (chāi), which specifically refers to a different type of hairpin. This word is used in both formal and informal settings, but is more common in formal discussions about traditional attire. Remember to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 簪 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to other words related to clothing and accessories. Focus on its use in cultural contexts to better understand its significance in Chinese traditions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 簪 with other hair-related terms, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我戴了一个钗' (I wore a hairpin) instead of '我戴了一个簪' (I wore a hairpin) is incorrect if referring to a traditional hairpin.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 簪

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Etymology of 簪

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

bamboo

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

Origin

簪 = ⺮ + 朁. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 簪

IDS Structure⿱⺮朁
簪Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
朁can3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 簪?

How to say hairpin, clasp; to wear in the hair in Chinese

“hairpin, clasp; to wear in the hair” in Chinese is簪zān

The character 簪 (zān) refers to a hairpin or clasp used to secure hair, often seen in traditional Chinese hairstyles. It is commonly used in contexts related to beauty, fashion, and cultural ceremonies, where hair adornments play a significant role.

When to use 簪

Be careful not to confuse 簪 with similar characters like 钗 (chāi), which specifically refers to a different type of hairpin. This word is used in both formal and informal settings, but is more common in formal discussions about traditional attire. Remember to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstandings.

簪 or something close to it

簪 (hairpin) vs 发夹 (hair clip) — use 簪 when referring to traditional or decorative hair accessories, while 发夹 is more general and often used for practical purposes.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 簪 with other hair-related terms, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我戴了一个钗' (I wore a hairpin) instead of '我戴了一个簪' (I wore a hairpin) is incorrect if referring to a traditional hairpin.

Write 簪

簪

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

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Word Family of 簪

Words Containing This Character2
簪zānhairpin
发簪hairpin發簪
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 簪

What does 发簪 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 簪

While both refer to hair accessories, 簪 specifically denotes a hairpin used to secure hair, whereas 钗 refers to another type of hairpin often used in a different style.

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