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諤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
諤ècandid, frank; honest speechx, 16 strokes, radical 言
è(e4) T4
  1. 1candid, frank; honest speech
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March 24, 2026

諤è(e4)

The character 諤 (è) means to speak candidly or frankly, often referring to honest and straightforward communication. It is used in contexts where openness and sincerity in expression are emphasized, particularly in discussions or debates where clear and truthful dialogue is valued.

Strokes16Radical言
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, frankness is often appreciated but must be balanced with respect for others' feelings. The idea of being candid can be seen in traditional Chinese discourse, where indirect communication is sometimes preferred to avoid conflict.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person 'saying' (the radical 讠) something very 'honest' (the sound è sounds like 'eh?' as if they are revealing a truth). Picture this person standing on a soapbox, candidly sharing their thoughts with a crowd, highlighting the importance of being frank.

Meanings of 諤

è(e4)
1candid, frank; honest speech
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 諤

諤Simplified
16Strokes
言Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 諤

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Podcast: 諤

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AI Study Notes for 諤

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include using 諤 in overly formal contexts where simpler expressions of honesty might be more appropriate. It is often used in written language or formal speech rather than casual conversation. Learners should be cautious about tone, ensuring they use the correct intonation to convey sincerity.

HSK Study Tips

Though 諤 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects with HSK vocabulary related to communication and expression. Students should focus on understanding the context in which candidness is valued, combining it with phrases that express honesty and openness.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 諤 interchangeably with 诚实 (chéngshí), which also means 'honest.' While both relate to honesty, 諤 specifically emphasizes candidness in speech, whereas 诚实 refers more broadly to honesty in character. A wrong example would be saying, '我很諤' (Wǒ hěn è) to mean 'I am honest'; it would be better to say '我很诚实'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 諤

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Etymology of 諤

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

speech

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

Origin

諤 = 言 + 咢. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 諤

IDS Structure⿰言咢
諤Full Character
=
言yan2
left
咢e4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 諤?

How to say candid, frank; honest speech in Chinese

“candid, frank; honest speech” in Chinese is諤è

The character 諤 (è) means to speak candidly or frankly, often referring to honest and straightforward communication. It is used in contexts where openness and sincerity in expression are emphasized, particularly in discussions or debates where clear and truthful dialogue is valued.

When to use 諤

Common mistakes include using 諤 in overly formal contexts where simpler expressions of honesty might be more appropriate. It is often used in written language or formal speech rather than casual conversation. Learners should be cautious about tone, ensuring they use the correct intonation to convey sincerity.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is using 諤 interchangeably with 诚实 (chéngshí), which also means 'honest.' While both relate to honesty, 諤 specifically emphasizes candidness in speech, whereas 诚实 refers more broadly to honesty in character. A wrong example would be saying, '我很諤' (Wǒ hěn è) to mean 'I am honest'; it would be better to say '我很诚实'.

Write 諤

諤

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

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Word Family of 諤

Words Containing This Character1
谔èhonest speech諤
Exercise 1 of 1

Characters with 諤

What does 谔 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 諤

You can use 諤 in discussions that require honesty, such as debates, evaluations, or when giving feedback.

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