璨 meaning and stroke order
Gem; the luster of a gem
How to write 璨, stroke by stroke
17 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 璨
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- gem
- luster of gem
How 璨 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. The luster 粲 of a gem 王; 粲 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 王 (king), shared by 104 characters on this site.
How to remember 璨
On the left is 王, which here stands for jade or a gem, and on the right is 粲 (càn), meaning bright or brilliant. Picture a gem 王 that shines brilliantly 粲, and you have 璨 (càn), the sparkle of a jewel.
璨 almost never appears alone in modern Chinese. You will meet it mainly in the word 璀璨 (cuǐcàn), used in writing to describe dazzling light, jewels, stars, or a glorious culture. Example: 夜空中星光璀璨。(Yèkōng zhōng xīngguāng cuǐcàn.) The stars sparkle brilliantly in the night sky.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 璨 with 灿 (càn), as in 灿烂 (cànlàn), because they sound the same and both relate to brightness. Remember that 璀璨 takes the jade radical 王, while 灿烂 takes the fire radical 火.
Common words with 璨
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 璀璨 | cuǐcàn | bright; resplendent |
Questions about 璨
How many strokes are in 璨?
璨 is written with 17 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 璨 mean?
璨 (càn) means gem; the luster of a gem. A common word with it is 璀璨 (cuǐcàn), meaning "bright; resplendent".
How do you pronounce 璨?
璨 is pronounced càn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 璨?
The radical of 璨 is 王, which carries the idea of "king". Dictionaries list 璨 under this radical.
What is the difference between 璀璨 and 灿烂?
Both mean bright or splendid. 璀璨 is more literary and suggests the glitter of jewels, stars, or lights, while 灿烂 is more common and is often used for sunshine, smiles, or a bright future.
Is 璨 used in names?
Yes. Because it suggests a shining gem, 璨 sometimes appears in Chinese given names, where it carries a sense of brilliance and preciousness.