谴 meaning and stroke order
To scold, to reprimand, to abuse
How to write 谴, stroke by stroke
15 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 谴
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to censure
- to reprimand
How 谴 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Speech.
讠 gives the meaning and 遣 hints at the sound.
Radical: 讠 (words), shared by 144 characters on this site.
How to remember 谴
谴 combines the speech radical 讠 with 遣 (qiǎn, to send away), which gives the sound. Picture harsh words that send someone away in disgrace, and you have the idea of scolding or censure.
谴 rarely appears alone in modern Chinese. It mostly shows up in the formal word 谴责 (qiǎnzé), used in news and official statements to condemn actions. Example: 各国谴责这次袭击。(Gèguó qiǎnzé zhè cì xíjī.) Countries condemned the attack.
Common mistake: Learners often write 遣 (qiǎn, to dispatch) when they mean 谴, because the two sound identical. Remember that condemning involves speech, so 谴责 needs the 讠 radical. 派遣 (pàiqiǎn, to dispatch) uses 遣 without it.
Common words with 谴
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 谴责 | qiǎnzé | to denounce; to condemn | HSK 7-9 |
谴 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 谴
How many strokes are in 谴?
谴 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 谴 mean?
谴 (qiǎn) means to scold, to reprimand, to abuse. A common word with it is 谴责 (qiǎnzé), meaning "to denounce; to condemn".
How do you pronounce 谴?
谴 is pronounced qiǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 谴?
The radical of 谴 is 讠, which carries the idea of "words". Dictionaries list 谴 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 谴?
The traditional form of 谴 is 譴. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 谴 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 谴 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 谴 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can I use 谴责 for scolding a child?
Not usually. 谴责 is strong and formal, used for public condemnation of wrongdoing. For everyday scolding, say 批评 (pīpíng) or 骂 (mà).
What does 自我谴责 mean?
自我谴责 (zìwǒ qiǎnzé) means self-reproach or blaming oneself. It describes feeling guilty about one's own actions, and it often appears in writing.