孱 (càn) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 孱 (càn) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 孱 (càn) means "weak / frail". with 12 strokes and the radical 子.

Q: How do you write 孱 stroke by stroke?

孱 has 12 strokes. The radical is 子. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 孱 and 孬?

孱 (càn) and 孬 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 孱?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 子. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 孱?

Common words containing 孱 include: 孱弱 (chán ruò) — frail / weak; 孱头 (càn tóu) — coward / weakling; 孱劣 (càn liè) — weak and inferior.

How to Write 孱

The character 孱 (càn) is written with 12 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 子 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

孱 is pronounced càn in Mandarin Chinese. It means weak / frail.

This is a polyphonic character with readings: càn, chán.

Common Words with 孱

孱弱 chán ruò

frail / weak

孱头 càn tóu

coward / weakling

孱劣 càn liè

weak and inferior

Example Sentences

他的身体很孱弱。

tā de shēn tǐ hěn chán ruò

His body is very frail.

他是个胆小的孱头。

tā shì gè dǎn xiǎo de càn tóu

He is a cowardly weakling.

这种材料很孱劣。

zhè zhǒng cái liào hěn càn liè

This material is very inferior.

Similar Characters

孬 nāo

孰 shú

孳 zī

Practice Writing 孱 (càn)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 孱 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 孱

What does 孱 (càn) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 孱 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 孱 and 孬?

What mistakes do learners make writing 孱?

What common words use 孱?

How to Write 孱 (càn)