臣 meaning and stroke order
Minister, statesman, official, vassal
How to write 臣, stroke by stroke
6 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
Meaning of 臣
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- state official or subject in dynastic China
- I, your servant (used in addressing the sovereign)
- Kangxi radical 131
How 臣 is built
Components of the character.
How to remember 臣
Picture 臣 as a box 匚 with two upright strokes 丨 inside, like an official standing stiffly in a room, waiting to serve. The boxed-in shape suggests someone who belongs to the ruler and stays in his place.
臣 (chén) appears mostly in historical, formal, or literary contexts, and in fixed words like 大臣 (dàchén) and 功臣 (gōngchén). In palace dramas, officials call themselves 臣 when speaking to the emperor. Example: 他是皇帝最信任的大臣。(Tā shì huángdì zuì xìnrèn de dàchén.) He is the emperor's most trusted minister.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 臣 with 巨 (jù, huge), which has a similar boxy shape but no inner vertical strokes. Also do not mix up chén with 陈 (chén, a surname) or 晨 (chén, morning), which share the same sound but have different meanings.
Common words with 臣
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 大臣 | dàchén | chancellor (of a monarchy); cabinet minister | HSK 7-9 |
| 功臣 | gōngchén | meritorious official; person who renders exceptional service; hero | HSK 7-9 |
| 臣民 | chénmín | subject (of a kingdom, ruler etc) | |
| 微臣 | wēichén | this small official; humble servant | |
| 臣服 | chénfú | to acknowledge allegiance to (some regime); to serve | |
| 家臣 | jiāchén | counselor of king or feudal warlord; henchman |
臣 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 臣
Learning 臣 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 臣
How many strokes are in 臣?
臣 is written with 6 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 臣 mean?
臣 (chén) means minister, statesman, official, vassal. A common word with it is 大臣 (dàchén), meaning "chancellor (of a monarchy); cabinet minister".
How do you pronounce 臣?
臣 is pronounced chén, in the second tone (rising).
Is 臣 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 臣 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can I use 臣 to mean 'I' in modern Chinese?
Not in normal conversation. Using 臣 or 微臣 (wēichén) for 'I' only fits historical dramas, jokes, or role play. In daily speech, just use 我 (wǒ).
Does 功臣 only describe ancient officials?
No. 功臣 (gōngchén) is still used today for anyone who made a key contribution, such as a player who won the game for the team. For example, 他是这次胜利的功臣 (tā shì zhè cì shènglì de gōngchén) means he is the hero of this victory.