研 meaning and stroke order
To grind, to rub; to study, to research
How to write 研, stroke by stroke
9 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
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- 9
Meaning of 研
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to grind
- study
- research
How 研 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Stone.
石 gives the meaning and 开 hints at the sound.
Radical: 石 (stone), shared by 114 characters on this site.
How to remember 研
研 has 石 (shí, stone) on the left, the meaning part, and 开 on the right, which gives the sound. Picture grinding something on a stone again and again, the same way you grind through a hard problem when you study it.
Today 研 almost always means study or research, and it rarely appears alone. It shows up in words like 研究 (yánjiū), 科研 (kēyán) and 研发 (yánfā). Example: 他在大学研究历史。(Tā zài dàxué yánjiū lìshǐ.) He studies history at university.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 研 with 砚 (yàn, inkstone), which has the same 石 on the left but 见 on the right and a fourth tone. Also keep the second tone in 研究 (yánjiū) rather than saying yàn.
Common words with 研
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 研究 | yánjiū | research; a study | HSK 4 |
| 研究生 | yánjiūshēng | graduate student; postgraduate student | HSK 4 |
| 研制 | yánzhì | to research and manufacture; to research and to develop | HSK 4 |
| 研究所 | yánjiūsuǒ | research institute; graduate studies | HSK 5 |
| 研发 | yánfā | research and development; to develop | HSK 6 |
| 科研 | kēyán | (scientific) research | HSK 6 |
| 调研 | diàoyán | to investigate and research; research | HSK 6 |
| 钻研 | zuānyán | to study meticulously; to delve into | HSK 7-9 |
| 研讨 | yántǎo | discussion | HSK 7-9 |
| 研讨会 | yántǎohuì | discussion forum; seminar | |
| 研究员 | yánjiūyuán | researcher | |
| 科学研究 | kēxuéyánjiū | scientific research | |
| 研究院 | yánjiūyuàn | research institute; academy | |
| 研究者 | yánjiūzhě | investigator; researcher |
研 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 研
How many strokes are in 研?
研 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 研 mean?
研 (yán) means to grind, to rub; to study, to research. A common word with it is 研究 (yánjiū), meaning "research; a study".
How do you pronounce 研?
研 is pronounced yán, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 研?
The radical of 研 is 石, which carries the idea of "stone". Dictionaries list 研 under this radical.
Is 研 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 研 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 2.
What is the difference between 研究 and 学习?
学习 (xuéxí) means to learn or study in general, like studying for class. 研究 (yánjiū) means to research or look into something deeply, often in an academic or professional way.
How do you say graduate student in Chinese?
Use 研究生 (yánjiūshēng), which covers master's and often doctoral students. A related verb is 考研 (kǎoyán), to take the graduate school entrance exam.