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讒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
讒chánto slander, to defame; to misrepresentzg, 24 strokes, radical 言
chán(chan2) T2
  1. 1to slander, to defame; to misrepresent
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March 24, 2026

讒chán(chan2)

The character 讒 (chán) means to slander or defame someone, often involving the act of misrepresenting the truth to damage someone's reputation. It is commonly used in contexts related to gossip, politics, or personal disputes, where one person's words can unfairly harm another's standing.

Strokes24Radical言
Cultural Note

In Chinese history, slander has been a significant theme, especially during political turmoil, where rumors could lead to severe consequences. The character 讒 reflects the societal understanding of the power of words and the importance of reputation in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'chant' (sounds like 'chán') that spreads false rumors about someone. The character 讒 has the radical for speech (言) on the left, which connects to its meaning of speaking ill of someone. Picture someone chanting slanderous words in front of a crowd, causing a scandal.

Meanings of 讒

chán(chan2)
1to slander, to defame; to misrepresent
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 讒

讒Simplified
24Strokes
言Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 讒

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Podcast: 讒

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AI Study Notes for 讒

Quick Contrast

中伤 (zhōngshāng) - use 讒 (chán) when emphasizing malicious intent in slander, while 中伤 suggests harm but may not imply deceitful misrepresentation.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 讒 (to slander) with similar-sounding terms that relate to praise or honesty. This word is generally used in more formal or serious contexts, such as legal discussions or moral evaluations. Common collocations include 讒言 (slanderous words) and 讒害 (to slander and harm).

HSK Study Tips

Although 讒 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to other words related to speech and communication, such as 说 (to speak) and 语 (language). Focus on understanding the nuances of how language can be used both positively and negatively.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 讒 with 赞 (zàn), which means to praise, leading to incorrect sentences like '他被人赞了' (He was praised by someone) instead of the intended meaning of slander. Always remember that 讒 has a negative connotation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 讒

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Etymology of 讒

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Semantic (meaning)言
+
Phonetic (sound)毚
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

讒 = 言 + 毚. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 讒

IDS Structure⿰言毚
讒Full Character
=
言yan2
left
毚chan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 讒?

How to say to slander, to defame; to misrepresent in Chinese

“to slander, to defame; to misrepresent” in Chinese is讒chán

The character 讒 (chán) means to slander or defame someone, often involving the act of misrepresenting the truth to damage someone's reputation. It is commonly used in contexts related to gossip, politics, or personal disputes, where one person's words can unfairly harm another's standing.

When to use 讒

Be careful not to confuse 讒 (to slander) with similar-sounding terms that relate to praise or honesty. This word is generally used in more formal or serious contexts, such as legal discussions or moral evaluations. Common collocations include 讒言 (slanderous words) and 讒害 (to slander and harm).

讒 or something close to it

中伤 (zhōngshāng) - use 讒 (chán) when emphasizing malicious intent in slander, while 中伤 suggests harm but may not imply deceitful misrepresentation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 讒 with 赞 (zàn), which means to praise, leading to incorrect sentences like '他被人赞了' (He was praised by someone) instead of the intended meaning of slander. Always remember that 讒 has a negative connotation.

Write 讒

讒

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

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Cultural Notes for 讒

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, slander is often treated as a legal issue, whereas in Chinese culture, it can carry significant social implications that may affect one's family and community standing.

Word Family of 讒

Words Containing This Character4
谗言slander讒言
谗chánto slander讒
谗佞a slandering toady讒佞
谗害to slander讒害
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 讒

What does 谗言 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 讒

You can say '他被人讒了' (Tā bèi rén chán le), meaning 'He was slandered by someone.'

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