How to Write 捐 (juān) — Meaning “to donate”

Imagine your hand (扌) is holding a donation box shaped like the right side 肙. Picture yourself putting money into the box to donate. The shape of 肙 looks like a container with a lid, reminding you of a donation bin.

Write the left radical 扌 first with the horizontal stroke shorter than the vertical hook. The right part 肙 has a small 口 on top and a curved 月 below; make sure the bottom stroke of 口 is horizontal and the inner 月 does not touch the top. A common mistake is making the right side too wide — keep it narrow and balanced.

捐 means 'to donate', while 㧜 (not in common use) and 抨 (pēng, 'to attack verbally') have very different meanings. Visually, 捐 has 肙 on the right, 㧜 has a different right component (not defined), and 抨 has 平 on the right. You will rarely encounter 捐, so focus on the distinct right side shape.

捐 is commonly used for donating money (捐钱), making a donation (捐款), or donating clothes (捐衣服). It appears in charity events, disaster relief, and community support. Culturally, donating is seen as a virtuous act, and you often see 捐 on collection boxes or campaign posters.

Common words containing 捐 include: 捐钱 (juān qián) — to donate money; 捐款 (juān kuǎn) — to donate money; 捐衣服 (juān yī fú) — to donate clothes.