参 meaning and stroke order
To take part in, to intervene; ginseng
How to write 参, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Meaning of 参
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to take part in
- to participate
- to join
- to attend
- to counsel
- unequal
- ginseng
- one of the 28 constellations
- variant of 參|参[shen1]
- used in 參差|参差[cen1 ci1]
How 参 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character.
彡 hints at the sound.
Radical: 厶 (private), shared by 11 characters on this site.
How to remember 参
Picture 参 as a stack: a small 厶 on top, a big person 大 in the middle, and three strokes 彡 below. The etymology data lists 彡 as the sound part, so think of a crowd of people, big and small, lining up to take part (cān) in something.
In everyday Chinese 参 (cān) mostly appears in verbs about joining or attending, such as 参加 (cānjiā), 参观 (cānguān), and 参考 (cānkǎo). Example: 我明天参加比赛。(Wǒ míngtiān cānjiā bǐsài.) I am taking part in the competition tomorrow.
Common mistake: Learners often read every 参 as cān, but in 人参 (rénshēn, ginseng) it is shēn, and in 参差 (cēncī, uneven) it is cēn. Also do not confuse 参观 (cānguān, to visit a place) with 访问 (fǎngwèn, to visit people or officially), because you 参观 a museum, not a friend.
Common words with 参
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 参加 | cānjiā | to participate; to take part; to join | HSK 2 |
| 参观 | cānguān | to visit (a place, e.g. museum or factory); to tour; to look around | HSK 2 |
| 参与 | cānyù | to participate (in sth) | HSK 4 |
| 参考 | cānkǎo | consultation; reference | HSK 4 |
| 参赛 | cānsài | to compete; to take part in a competition | HSK 6 |
| 参展 | cānzhǎn | to exhibit at or take part in a trade show etc | HSK 6 |
| 参军 | cānjūn | to join the army; (official title in imperial China) military adviser; aide-de-camp | HSK 7-9 |
| 参谋 | cānmóu | staff officer; to give advice | HSK 7-9 |
| 参见 | cānjiàn | to refer to; see also | HSK 7-9 |
| 参照 | cānzhào | to consult a reference; to refer to (another document) | HSK 7-9 |
| 参议员 | cānyìyuán | senator | |
| 参议院 | cānyìyuàn | senate; upper chamber (of legislative assembly) | |
| 参选 | cānxuǎn | to be a candidate in an election or other selection process; to run for office | |
| 参战 | cānzhàn | to go to war; to engage in war |
参 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 参
Learning 参 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 参
How many strokes are in 参?
参 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 参 mean?
参 (cān) means to take part in, to intervene; ginseng. A common word with it is 参加 (cānjiā), meaning "to participate; to take part; to join".
How do you pronounce 参?
参 is pronounced cān, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 参?
The radical of 参 is 厶, which carries the idea of "private". Dictionaries list 参 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 参?
The traditional form of 参 is 㕘, 參, 叅, 葠 and 蓡. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 参 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 参 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 参 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 参加 and 参与?
参加 (cānjiā) usually means to attend or join an event, group, or activity, like a meeting or a club. 参与 (cānyù) stresses actively being involved in a process, like a project or a decision.
How do you say ginseng in Chinese?
Ginseng is 人参 (rénshēn), and here 参 is read shēn. You may also see 红参 (hóngshēn), red ginseng, on product labels.