盐 meaning and stroke order
Salt
How to write 盐, stroke by stroke
10 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
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- 5
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- 10
Meaning of 盐
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- salt
How 盐 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 皿 (dish), shared by 28 characters on this site.
How to remember 盐
Picture a dish 皿 (mǐn) at the bottom with a little heap of earth 圤 on top. Salt is that small mound of white grains piled in a bowl, ready for the kitchen.
盐 (yán) is the everyday word for salt in cooking and at the table. It also appears in food words like 盐水 (yánshuǐ, salt water) and 椒盐 (jiāoyán, pepper salt seasoning). Example: 汤里再放一点盐。(Tāng lǐ zài fàng yìdiǎn yán.) Put a little more salt in the soup.
Common mistake: Learners often write the top as 土 alone and forget the small extra stroke on the right that makes it 圤. Also watch the tone. It is second tone yán, not yàn as in 咽 or 燕.
Common words with 盐
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 盐水 | yánshuǐ | salt water; brine | |
| 椒盐 | jiāoyán | seasoning mix of Sichuan pepper powder and salt |
盐 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 盐
How many strokes are in 盐?
盐 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 盐 mean?
盐 (yán) means salt. A common word with it is 盐水 (yánshuǐ), meaning "salt water; brine".
How do you pronounce 盐?
盐 is pronounced yán, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 盐?
The radical of 盐 is 皿, which carries the idea of "dish". Dictionaries list 盐 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 盐?
The traditional form of 盐 is 鹽. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 盐 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 盐 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 盐 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
How do you say something is too salty in Chinese?
Use 咸 (xián), not 盐. 太咸了 (tài xián le) means it is too salty. 盐 is the substance and 咸 is the taste.
What does 椒盐 mean on a Chinese menu?
椒盐 (jiāoyán) is a mix of Sichuan pepper powder and salt. Dishes like 椒盐排骨 (jiāoyán páigǔ) are usually fried and then tossed in this seasoning.