Hanzi Writer

How to Write 颤 (chàn/zhàn) — Meaning “To tremble; to shiver”

chàn/zhàn HSK Level 7 19 strokes Radical: 页

颤 (chàn/zhàn) means "To tremble; to shiver" in Chinese. It has 19 strokes with the radical 页, and is HSK Level 7.

Rated 4.2/5 in difficulty (advanced).

Harder than 98% of HSK Level 7 characters.

Appears in 4+ common words including 颤抖 (chàn dǒu), 颤动 (chàn dòng), 颤栗 (zhàn lì).

Due to its 19 strokes, Hanzi Writer's error detection shows 颤 requires focused practice — most learners need 10+ attempts for consistent accuracy.

Stroke order practice for 颤 - chàn/zhàn

Practice Writing 颤 (chàn/zhàn)

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

App Store ▶ Google Play

How to Write 颤

The character 颤 (chàn/zhàn) is written with 19 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 页 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.

What Does chàn/zhàn (颤) Mean in Chinese?

颤 means To tremble; to shiver.

This is a polyphonic character with readings: chàn, zhàn.

As an HSK Level 7 character, 颤 is an intermediate-level character.

Character Data

Character颤
Pinyinchàn / zhàn (chan/zhan)
MeaningTo tremble; to shiver
Strokes19
Radical页
HSK Level7
Difficulty4.2/5

Origin of 颤

The character 颤 combines the radical 页 (head) on the right with 亻 (person) on the left, depicting a person whose head is trembling. The top part of the right side (two dots over a line) visually represents the shaking motion or chattering teeth.

💡 Memory Tip: Picture a person (亻) whose head (页) shakes violently, with two chattering teeth (the two dots above 页) making the whole head tremble.

Common Words with 颤

颤抖 chàn dǒu
To shiver; to tremble
颤动 chàn dòng
To vibrate; to quiver
颤栗 zhàn lì
To shiver; to tremble.
打颤 dǎ zhàn
to tremble; to shiver

Example Sentences

那个可怜的孩子在寒风中冻得瑟瑟颤抖。

nà ge kě lián de hái zi zài hán fēng zhōng dòng dé sè sè chàn dǒu

The poor child was shivering in the cold wind.

琴弦在手指的拨动下发出细微的颤动。

qín xián zài shǒu zhǐ de bō dòng xià fā chū xì wēi de chàn dòng

The strings vibrate slightly as they are plucked by fingers.

想到那个恐怖的画面，他不寒而栗，浑身颤栗。

xiǎng dào nà ge kǒng bù de huà miàn tā bù hán ér lì hún shēn zhàn lì

Thinking of that horrific scene, he shuddered with fear and trembled all over.

考试前他紧张得双腿不停地打颤。

kǎo shì qián tā jǐn zhāng dé shuāng tuǐ bù tíng dì dǎ zhàn

His legs were trembling uncontrollably with nervousness before the exam.

Similar Characters Comparison

Character Pinyin Strokes Radical
颤 (current) chàn / zhàn 19 页
颢 hào 18 页
颥 rú 20 页
Stroke order practice for 颤 - chàn/zhàn

Practice Writing 颤 (chàn/zhàn)

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

✨ Animated stroke order · Handwriting recognition · HSK-graded practice · Free to use

App Store ▶ Google Play

Frequently Asked Questions about 颤

The left side is 亻 (person radical) and the right side is 頁 (head/page), but the overall structure is more complex. The character suggests a person (亻) whose head (頁) is shaking or unsteady, leading to the meanings of trembling or shivering. The top part 亠 and 口 may add a sense of repeated motion, reinforcing the idea of quivering.

More HSK Level 7 Characters

伯bó呵hē哎āi哀āi唉āi/ài癌ái艾ài/yì滋zī抚fǔ逸yì昂áng凹āo/wā熬āo/áo奥ào卦guà扒bā/pá芭bā蕾lěi柄bǐng靶bǎ

Characters with Radical 页

页yè顶dǐng顷qǐng顸hān项xiàng顺shùn顼xū顽wán顾gù顿dùn

Other 19-Stroke Characters

䜌luán嚯huò孽niè巅diān巆róng攀pān攉huō攒cuán/zǎn曝bào/pù瀚hàn