阐 meaning and stroke order
To disclose; to explain; to open
How to write 阐, stroke by stroke
11 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 阐
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to express
- to disclose
- to enlighten
- to open
How 阐 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Gate.
门 gives the meaning and 单 hints at the sound.
Radical: 门 (gate), shared by 47 characters on this site.
How to remember 阐
阐 is a gate 门 (mén) with 单 (dān) inside, which gives the sound. Picture opening a gate to show what is inside, so you disclose and explain it clearly.
阐 almost never appears alone. It shows up in formal words like 阐述 (chǎnshù) and 阐明 (chǎnmíng), common in speeches, essays and academic writing. Example: 他阐述了自己的观点。(Tā chǎnshù le zìjǐ de guāndiǎn.) He explained his point of view.
Common mistake: Learners often read 阐 as dān or dàn because of 单, but it is chǎn, third tone. Also do not confuse it with 间 (jiān), which has 日 inside the gate instead of 单.
Common words with 阐
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 阐述 | chǎnshù | to expound (a position); to elaborate (on a topic) | HSK 7-9 |
| 阐明 | chǎnmíng | to elucidate; to explain clearly |
阐 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 阐
How many strokes are in 阐?
阐 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 阐 mean?
阐 (chǎn) means to disclose; to explain; to open. A common word with it is 阐述 (chǎnshù), meaning "to expound (a position); to elaborate (on a topic)".
How do you pronounce 阐?
阐 is pronounced chǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 阐?
The radical of 阐 is 门, which carries the idea of "gate". Dictionaries list 阐 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 阐?
The traditional form of 阐 is 闡. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 阐 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 阐 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 阐 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 阐述 and 解释?
解释 (jiěshì) is the everyday word for explaining something to someone. 阐述 is formal and means laying out a view or argument in detail, as in a report or paper.
Can I use 阐明 in casual conversation?
It would sound stiff in daily talk. In conversation people usually say 说清楚 (shuō qīngchu) or 讲明白 (jiǎng míngbai) instead.