How to Write 玷 (diàn) — Meaning “flaw / blemish”

Imagine a beautiful piece of jade (王) that has a dark spot or stain (like a dot) on it — that dot is the blemish. The right side 占 looks like a dot or small mark, reminding you that a small flaw can ‘occupy’ (占 means ‘to occupy’) the perfection of jade.

The left radical 王 (jade) has three horizontal strokes and one vertical; make sure the middle horizontal is shorter than the top and bottom ones. The right part 占 starts with a small vertical stroke on top, then a horizontal line, and finally a rectangle-like框; keep the right side balanced so it doesn't look wider than the left.

玷 (diàn) means a flaw or blemish, while 玓 (dì) is a rare character meaning the bright luster of gems, and 玖 (jiǔ) is the character for the number nine used on checks to prevent forgery. Visually, 玷 has 占 on the right, 玓 has 勺 (spoon-like), and 玖 has 久 on the right — their meanings and usages are completely different.

玷 is almost always used in the compound word 玷污 (diàn wū), meaning to stain or tarnish someone's reputation or something pure. It is a formal, literary word and not common in daily conversation; for example, you might say ‘他的行为玷污了家族的名声’ (His behavior tarnished the family's name). The character carries strong negative moral connotations.

Common words containing 玷 include: 玷污 (diàn wū) — to stain / to tarnish; 玷辱 (diàn rǔ) — to disgrace / to dishonor; 瑕玷 (xiá diàn) — Flaw; blemish; defect..