Meaning of 含
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to keep in the mouth
- to contain
How to use 含
含 literally means to keep something in the mouth, and it extends to things that contain an ingredient, a meaning, or a feeling. It often appears in compounds like 含有 (hányǒu) and 包含 (bāohán). Example: 这种水果含很多维生素。(Zhè zhǒng shuǐguǒ hán hěn duō wéishēngsù.) This fruit contains a lot of vitamins.
含 has 今 (jīn) on top and 口 (kǒu, mouth) below. Picture something held inside the mouth right now, kept there without swallowing, and you have the idea of holding or containing.
Common mistake: Learners often write 令 (lìng) or 合 (hé) on top instead of 今 (jīn). The top of 含 is 今, with a short horizontal stroke and a final turning stroke, not the two dots of 令. Also keep the rising second tone in hán, not hàn as in 汉 (hàn).
含 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
含 hán · to keep in the mouth · 7 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 含.
Questions about 含
What does 含 mean?
含 (hán) means "to keep in the mouth; to contain" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 含?
含 is made of 1 character: 含 (7 strokes). That is 7 strokes in total.
Is 含 an HSK word?
Yes. 含 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 含 and 包含?
Both can mean to contain. 含 is common for substances and ingredients, as in 含糖 (hán táng, contains sugar). 包含 (bāohán) is more often used for abstract parts or items included in a whole, like a price that includes tax.
What does 含糊 mean when describing someone's speech?
含糊 (hánhu) means vague or unclear, as if the words are held in the mouth and not spoken plainly. 他回答得很含糊 (Tā huídá de hěn hánhu) means he gave a vague answer. In the negative, 不含糊 can mean someone is quite capable.