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March 24, 2026
让(讓)ràng(rang4)
The character 让 (ràng) primarily means 'to yield' or 'to permit.' It is commonly used in contexts where someone allows another person to do something or gives way to someone else. This character can also indicate an action being done by someone else in passive constructions.
Strokes5Radical讠Frequency#41DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, yielding or giving way is often seen as a virtue, reflecting respect and harmony in social interactions. The concept of 让 is deeply embedded in traditional values, such as filial piety and humility.
Memory Tip
Imagine a traffic sign with an arrow pointing to the right, representing someone yielding their right of way. The character 让 has a radical that resembles a person (亻) and the sound resembles 'rang,' like someone saying 'rang on' to let another pass.
Meanings of 让
ràng(rang4)
1to yield
2to permit
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 让
让Simplified
讓Traditional
5Strokes
讠Radical
介词jiècípreposition (prep.)Part of Speech
#41Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 让
Podcast: 让
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AI Study Notes for 让
Quick Contrast
让 (ràng) vs 允许 (yǔn xǔ) — use 让 for yielding or giving way, while 允许 emphasizes granting permission.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a traffic sign with an arrow pointing to the right, representing someone yielding their right of way. The character 让 has a radical that resembles a person (亻) and the sound resembles 'rang,' like someone saying 'rang on' to let another pass.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is confusing 让 with similar verbs like 说 (shuō, to say) or 给 (gěi, to give), which have different nuances. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious about the tone; using a soft tone can make it sound more polite. Common collocations include 让人 (to let someone), 让步 (to yield), and 让座 (to give up a seat).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 让 connects with other verbs that express permission or actions, such as 给 (gěi) and 让步 (ràng bù). Focus on using it in sentences to express allowing or permitting actions, as well as familiarizing yourself with its role in passive structures.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, yielding or giving way is often seen as a virtue, reflecting respect and harmony in social interactions. The concept of 让 is deeply embedded in traditional values, such as filial piety and humility.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 让 by confusing it with other verbs, like using '我让他给我' (I let him give me) instead of '我让他做' (I let him do). Ensure you understand the context of permission versus action.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 让
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Grammar Patterns of 让
让 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
A phrase from the conference floor set my mind wandering.
10
这个晚上最让人高兴的就是精彩的焰火表演。
zhè gè wǎn shàng zuì ràng rén gāo xīng de jiù shì jīng cǎi de yàn huǒ biǎo yǎn。
The most pleasurable experience of the evening was the wonderful fireworks display.
Cultural Notes for 让
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, yielding or giving way is often seen as a virtue, reflecting respect and harmony in social interactions. The concept of 让 is deeply embedded in traditional values, such as filial piety and humility.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, yielding is often seen as a sign of weakness or submission, while in Chinese culture, it is viewed as a noble act of consideration and respect.
Word Family of 让
Words Containing This Character20
让ràngto yield讓
转让zhuǎnràngconveyancing (property)轉讓
出让to transfer (one's property or rights to sb else)出讓
让步ràngbùto concede讓步
让开to step aside讓開
让路to make way (for sth)讓路
忍让to exercise forbearance忍讓
避让to avoid避讓
退让tuìràngto move aside退讓
让座ràngzuòto give up one's seat for sb讓座
让位to abdicate讓位
谦让to modestly decline謙讓
当仁不让to be unwilling to pass on one's responsibilities to others當仁不讓
礼让courtesy禮讓
互不相让neither giving way to the other互不相讓
阿比让Abidjan (city in Ivory Coast)阿比讓
割让to cede割讓
容让to make a concession容讓
禅让to abdicate禪讓
寸步不让(idiom) not to yield an inch寸步不讓
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 让 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 让
You can use 让 to mean 'allow' in a sentence like '我让他去' (I let him go).
Yes, 让 can indicate the agent in a passive structure, similar to 被, as in '这个问题让我很困扰' (This problem makes me very troubled).
Yes, 让 is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.
