涵 meaning and stroke order
To wet, to soak; to tolerate, to include lenient
How to write 涵, stroke by stroke
11 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 涵
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to contain
- to include
- culvert
How 涵 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Water.
氵 gives the meaning and 函 hints at the sound.
Radical: 氵 (water), shared by 467 characters on this site.
How to remember 涵
涵 is water 氵 next to 函 (hán), which gives the sound. Picture water soaking into and filling a container, so the character means to soak, to contain, and to include.
涵 rarely appears alone and mostly shows up in formal two-character words like 内涵 (nèihán), 涵盖 (hángài), and 包涵 (bāohan). 包涵 is a polite phrase used when asking someone to forgive a shortcoming. Example: 招待不周，请多包涵。(Zhāodài bù zhōu, qǐng duō bāohan.) Please forgive us if our hospitality falls short.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 涵 with 函 (hán, letter or envelope) because they sound the same. If the meaning is about containing, including, or tolerance, you need the water radical 氵.
Common words with 涵
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
涵 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 涵
How many strokes are in 涵?
涵 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 涵 mean?
涵 (hán) means to wet, to soak; to tolerate, to include lenient. A common word with it is 内涵 (nèihán), meaning "meaningful content; implication".
How do you pronounce 涵?
涵 is pronounced hán, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 涵?
The radical of 涵 is 氵, which carries the idea of "water". Dictionaries list 涵 under this radical.
Is 涵 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 涵 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 内涵 and 涵义?
涵义 (hányì) simply means the meaning of a word or statement. 内涵 (nèihán) is broader. It can mean implied content, and when said of a person or work, it means depth or substance.
Why is 包涵 often pronounced bāohan with a neutral tone?
In everyday speech 包涵 is usually said with a light, neutral second syllable, so 涵 loses its second tone. In other words like 涵盖 (hángài), 涵 keeps its full second tone.