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March 24, 2026
汉(漢)hàn(Han4)
The character 汉 (hàn) primarily refers to the Han ethnic group, the largest ethnic group in China, as well as the Chinese language and culture. It also denotes the Han dynasty, a significant period in Chinese history known for its advancements in technology, culture, and the arts. In contemporary usage, it can broadly signify anything related to Chinese identity.
Strokes5Radical氵Frequency#4197DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The Han dynasty (汉朝) is considered a golden age in Chinese history, significantly influencing Chinese culture, language, and governance. The term 汉 is not just about ethnicity but also embodies the essence of Chinese civilization.
Memory Tip
Imagine a strong man (汉) standing proudly with a banner that reads 'Han' in bold letters. The character itself has a radical that resembles a person (亻) next to a symbol representing the river (水), hinting at the connection of the Han people to the Yellow River, central to their history.
Meanings of 汉
hàn(Han4)
1Han ethnic group
2Chinese (language)
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 汉
汉Simplified
漢Traditional
5Strokes
氵Radical
简称abbreviation (abbr.)Part of Speech
#4197Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6
Podcast: 汉
Podcast: 汉
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AI Study Notes for 汉
Quick Contrast
汉 (hàn) vs 华 (huá) — use 汉 when specifically referring to the Han ethnic group or dynasty, while 华 generally relates to Chinese culture in a broader sense.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a strong man (汉) standing proudly with a banner that reads 'Han' in bold letters. The character itself has a radical that resembles a person (亻) next to a symbol representing the river (水), hinting at the connection of the Han people to the Yellow River, central to their history.
Usage Notes
汉 is often used in formal contexts when discussing ethnicity or historical topics. Common phrases include 汉语 (hànyǔ) for 'Chinese language' and 汉族 (hànzú) for 'Han ethnic group.' Be careful to use the correct tone (fourth tone) to avoid confusion with other words.
HSK Study Tips
While 汉 is not specifically included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is crucial for understanding cultural contexts. Students at HSK Level 3 and above should connect it with related terms like 汉字 (Chinese characters) and expand their vocabulary around Chinese culture.
Cultural Note
The Han dynasty (汉朝) is considered a golden age in Chinese history, significantly influencing Chinese culture, language, and governance. The term 汉 is not just about ethnicity but also embodies the essence of Chinese civilization.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 汉 with similar characters due to pronunciation. For instance, mixing it up with 汉 (hàn) and 含 (hán) can lead to misunderstandings, as 含 means 'to contain.' Always remember the right tone: 汉 is fourth tone.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 汉
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Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 堇 represents the sound. The simplified character 汉 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 漢.
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Grammar Patterns of 汉
汉 carries 5 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
36 36 suì de hàn dé lā shēn tǐ jiàn， zhuàng ，21 yǒu zháo 21 suì xiǎo huǒ zǐ。
Xandra is an athletic 36-year-old with a 21-year-old's body.
2
你可以和戴维·贝克汉姆的纸板模型合影。
nǐ kě yǐ hé dài wéi· · bèi kè hàn mǔ de zhǐ bǎn mó xíng hé。
You can have your picture taken with a cutout of David Beckham.
3
克纳汉因为扭伤脖子而错过了联赛。
kè nà hàn yīn wéi niǔ shāng bó zǐ ér cuò guò le lián sài。
Kernaghan missed the United game after he ricked his neck.
4
素食汉堡是一种迅速传到了英国的新开发食品。
sù shí hàn bǎo shì yī zhǒng xùn sù chuán dào le yīng guó de xīn kāi fā shí pǐn。
The vegetarian burger was an innovation which was rapidly exported to Britain.
5
起了疑心的爱好者揭发了这一勾当，警察在诺丁汉逮捕了一名男子。
qǐ le yí xīn de ài hǎo zhě jiē fā le zhè yī gōu dāng， ， jǐng chá zài nuò dīng hàn dài bǔ le yī míng nán。
Suspicious fans exposed the racket and police arrested a man in Nottingham.
6
在诺丁汉我经历了自己在童话剧演出中最尴尬的时刻之一。
zài nuò dīng hàn wǒ jīng lì le zì jǐ zài tóng huà jù yǎn chū zhōng zuì gān gà de shí kè zhī yī。
I had one of my most embarrassing moments in panto in Nottingham.
7
三个膀粗腰圆的恶汉挤到了前面。
sān gè bǎng cū yāo yuán de è hàn jǐ dào le qián miàn。
Three burly toughs elbowed their way to the front.
8
“大约6个月后，”弗洛伊德写道，“汉斯克服了他的嫉妒心理。”
“ “ dà6 yuē 6 gè，” yuè hòu ，” fú luò yī，“ dé xiě dào ，“ hàn sī kè fú le tā de。”
"Some six months later," Freud writes, "Hans had got over his jealousy."
9
来自德国汉堡的霍斯特是个名副其实的怪人。
lái zì dé guó hàn bǎo de huò sī tè shì gè míng fù qí shí de guài rén。
Horst, a German from Hamburg, was a true original.
10
焦急万分的鲍勃和汉斯把整座房子找了个遍。
jiāo jí wàn fēn de bào bó hé hàn sī bǎ zhěng zuò fáng zǐ zhǎo le gè biàn。
Desperate with anxiety, Bob and Hans searched the whole house.
Cultural Notes for 汉
🏮Cultural insight
The Han dynasty (汉朝) is considered a golden age in Chinese history, significantly influencing Chinese culture, language, and governance. The term 汉 is not just about ethnicity but also embodies the essence of Chinese civilization.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, ethnic identities are often described in more fragmented terms, whereas 汉 encompasses a broader cultural identity and historical legacy tied intricately to the Chinese state.
Word Family of 汉
Compounds1
倝gan4sunrise, dawn
Words Containing This Character20
汉hànman漢
武汉Wuhan city on Changjiang, subprovincial city and capital of Hubei province武漢
汉堡Hamburg (German city)漢堡
汉城Hanseong, former name of Seoul (capital of South Korea), replaced in 2005 with 首爾|首尔[Shǒu'ěr]漢城
汉语hànyǔChinese language漢語
流浪汉tramp流浪漢
男子汉man (i.e. manly, masculine)男子漢
汉子man漢子
汉堡包hamburger (loanword)漢堡包
大汉big person大漢
汉字hànzìChinese character漢字
单身汉bachelor單身漢
武汉市Wuhan city on Changjiang, subprovincial city and capital of Hubei province武漢市
硬汉man of steel硬漢
汉娜Hannah (name)漢娜
汉族Han ethnic group漢族
好汉hero好漢
贝克汉姆Beckenham or Beckham (name)貝克漢姆
汉斯Hans (name)漢斯
老汉lǎohànold man老漢
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 倝 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 汉
汉 can refer to the Han ethnic group, the Chinese language, or the historic Han dynasty.
汉 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more commonly found in discussions about history and culture.
Make sure to use the fourth tone: falling tone, which is important to distinguish it from other similar-sounding words.
