Question 1

Structure analysis: How is the character 黯 built and what do its parts mean?

Accepted Answer

黯 is made of the radical 黑 (black, dark) on the left and 音 (sound) on the right. The 黑 radical gives the core meaning of darkness, and 音 originally contributed to a sense of a deep or gloomy tone. Together they create the idea of something dim, dark, or a sad mood.

Question 2

Memory technique: What is a good way to remember the meaning and shape of 黯?

Accepted Answer

Imagine a black (黑) silence (音) — a dark room with no sound, creating a gloomy feeling. This mental picture of "dark sound" links the components to the meaning of dim and gloomy.

Question 3

Writing tips: What should I watch out for when writing 黯?

Accepted Answer

Write the left radical 黑 first (9 strokes) and then the right part 音 (12 strokes). A common mistake is making the 黑 too wide or misplacing its bottom four dots (灬) — keep them small and even. Also ensure the 日 in 音 is not too tall, so the character stays balanced.

Question 4

Distinguishing from similar characters: How is 黯 different from 黢 and 黥?

Accepted Answer

黯 (àn) means dim or gloomy, while 黢 (qū) specifically means pitch black (like 黢黑). 黥 (qíng) is a verb for an ancient tattoo punishment, with a different right side (京). Visually, 黯 has 音 on the right, 黢 has 夋, and 黥 has 京.

Question 5

Usage context: Where and when is 黯 used in modern Chinese?

Accepted Answer

黯 appears in literary or formal contexts, such as 黯然 (dejected) and 黯淡 (dim/bleak). It is not in common HSK vocabulary but is used in idioms like 黯然失色 (to pale in comparison) and to describe a gloomy atmosphere or sadness.

Question 6

What common words use 黯?

Accepted Answer

Common words containing 黯 include: 黯然 (àn rán) — Dejected; downcast; gloomy; 黯淡 (àn dàn) — Dim; gloomy; bleak; 黯然失色 (àn rán shī sè) — To pale in comparison; to lose luster.

Character	黯
Pinyin	àn (an)
Meaning	Dim; dark; gloomy
Strokes	21
Radical	黑
Difficulty	4.2/5

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
黯 (current)	àn	21	黑
黢	qū	19	黑
黥	qíng	20	黑
黧	lí	20	黑

How to Write 黯 (àn) — Meaning “Dim; dark; gloomy”

Practice Writing 黯 (àn)

How to Write 黯

What Does àn (黯) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 黯

Common Words with 黯

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 黯 (àn)

Frequently Asked Questions about 黯

Characters with Radical 黑

Other 21-Stroke Characters