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穿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
穿chuānto bore throughHSK 1, zg, 9 strokes, radical 穴, rank #270, Easy
穿chuānto pierceHSK 1, zg, 9 strokes, radical 穴, rank #270, Easy
穿chuānto perforateHSK 1, zg, 9 strokes, radical 穴, rank #270, Easy
穿chuānto penetrateHSK 1, zg, 9 strokes, radical 穴, rank #270, Easy
穿chuānto pass throughHSK 1, zg, 9 strokes, radical 穴, rank #270, Easy
穿chuānto dressHSK 1, zg, 9 strokes, radical 穴, rank #270, Easy
穿chuānto wearHSK 1, zg, 9 strokes, radical 穴, rank #270, Easy
穿chuānto put onHSK 1, zg, 9 strokes, radical 穴, rank #270, Easy
穿chuānto threadHSK 1, zg, 9 strokes, radical 穴, rank #270, Easy
穿chuānto drill, to pierce; to dress, to wearHSK 1, zg, 9 strokes, radical 穴, rank #270, Easy
chuān(chuan1) T1
  1. 1to bore through
  2. 2to pierce
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
穿chuān(chuan1)

The character 穿 (chuān) primarily means 'to wear' or 'to put on' clothing. It can also signify 'to pass through' or 'to pierce,' making it versatile in different contexts, such as discussing dressing oneself or describing something that goes through another object. It is commonly used in daily conversations about fashion and clothing.

Strokes9Radical穴Frequency#270DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, discussing clothing can reflect social status and personal style, making 穿 a significant word in everyday life. Traditional Chinese garments might also be referenced when using 穿, highlighting its role in cultural identity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person穿 (chuān)ing a dress that has many holes, allowing them to pass through it easily. The character 穿 has a '穿' radical representing 'wearing' and the bottom part looks like someone threading through fabric, helping you remember its meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 穿

chuān(chuan1)
1to bore through
2to pierce
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 穿

穿Simplified
9Strokes
穴Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#270Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1YCTL1HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 穿

JasonAmy

Podcast: 穿

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 穿

Quick Contrast

穿 (chuān) vs 戴 (dài) — use 穿 for clothing worn on the body, while 戴 is for accessories like hats or jewelry.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person穿 (chuān)ing a dress that has many holes, allowing them to pass through it easily. The character 穿 has a '穿' radical representing 'wearing' and the bottom part looks like someone threading through fabric, helping you remember its meaning and pronunciation.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 穿 with 戴 (dài), which is used for accessories like hats or jewelry. 穿 is typically used in informal contexts and should be paired with clothing items for clarity, such as 穿衣服 (chuān yīfu) for 'to wear clothes.' Be mindful of the fourth tone in pronunciation to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 2 word, 穿 connects with other basic vocabulary related to clothing and personal items. Focus on using 穿 in sentences about daily dressing routines or shopping experiences to solidify its meaning and usage.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, discussing clothing can reflect social status and personal style, making 穿 a significant word in everyday life. Traditional Chinese garments might also be referenced when using 穿, highlighting its role in cultural identity.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes incorrectly use 穿 for accessories, saying things like 穿帽子 (chuān màozi) instead of 戴帽子 (dài màozi). Also, they might forget to add the measure word for clothing, which can lead to confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 穿

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Etymology of 穿

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

Based on the meaning "to pierce through". Meaning later extended to "to thread", "to string together", and "to wear".

Memory Hint

tooth

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 穿?

Decomposition of 穿

IDS Structure⿱穴牙
穿Full Character
=
穴xue2
top
牙ya2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 穿?

Write 穿

穿

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 穿

穿 carries 10 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Related grammar lessons6
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

先____好衣服，再出门。

First get dressed, then go out.

Example Sentences for 穿 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
还没看到他们，我便听到他们穿过矮树丛过来的声音。

huán méi kàn dào tā mén， ， wǒ biàn tīng dào tā mén chuān guò ǎi shù cóng guò lái de shēng。

I heard them coming, crashing through the undergrowth, before I saw them.
2
你一直穿你的旧衣服，直到穿烂了为止吗？

nǐ yī zhí chuān nǐ de jiù yī fú， ， zhí dào chuān làn le wéi zhǐ？

Do you wear your old clothes until they fall to pieces?
3
无论你什么时候需要，都可以自由穿过我们的领地。

wú lùn nǐ shí mó shí hòu xū yào， ， dū kě yǐ zì yóu chuān guò wǒ mén de lǐng。

You may have free passage across our territory whenever you require it.
4
他的衣服皱巴巴的，好像他是穿着衣服睡的。

tā de yī fú zhòu bā bā de， ， hǎo xiàng tā shì chuān zháo yī fú shuì。

His clothes were creased, as if he had slept in them.
5
像往常一样，他今天穿的是三件套。

xiàng wǎng cháng yī yàng， ， tā jīn tiān chuān de shì sān jiàn。

Today, as usual, he was wearing a three-piece suit.
6
我花大笔钱购置了上班时穿的漂亮新套装。

wǒ huā dà bǐ qián gòu zhì le shàng bān shí chuān de piāo liàng xīn tào zhuāng。

I spent lots of money on smart new outfits for work.
7
这条道越过瓦尔山口之后，穿过于拜河畔圣保罗。

zhè tiáo dào yuè guò wǎ ěr shān kǒu zhī hòu， ， chuān guò yú bài hé pàn shèng bǎo。

After going over the Col de Vars, the route passes through St-Paul-sur-Ubaye.
8
她不得不疲惫地步行穿过伦敦，这让她相当生气。

tā bù dé bù pí bèi dì bù háng chuān guò lún dūn， ， zhè ràng tā xiāng dāng shēng。

She was rather cross about having to trail across London.
9
从一开始我就看穿了你的小计谋。

cóng yī kāi shǐ wǒ jiù kàn chuān le nǐ de xiǎo jì móu。

I saw through your little ruse from the start.
10
玛丽亚穿一袭白色节裙，一动裙子就窸窣作响。

mǎ lì yà chuān yī xí bái sè jié qún， ， yī dòng qún zǐ jiù xī sū zuò。

Maria wore a layered white dress that rustled when she moved.

Cultural Notes for 穿

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, discussing clothing can reflect social status and personal style, making 穿 a significant word in everyday life. Traditional Chinese garments might also be referenced when using 穿, highlighting its role in cultural identity.

Word Family of 穿

Compounds1
瑏
Words Containing This Character20
穿chuānto wear
穿过chuānguòto pass through穿過
穿越chuānyuèto pass through
穿上chuānshangto put on (clothes etc)
穿着chuānzhuóattire穿著
贯穿guànchuānto run through貫穿
穿衣clothing
穿梭to shuttle
穿刺puncture
穿透to penetrate
看穿see through (a person, scheme, trick etc)
揭穿to expose
穿孔to perforate
穿行to go through
穿戴to dress
横穿to cross橫穿
穿插to insert
试穿fitting trial試穿
拆穿to expose
戳穿to puncture
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 穿 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 穿

Yes, 穿 is used for wearing most types of clothing, but for accessories like hats or glasses, use 戴 (dài).