How to Write 粘 (nián/zhān) — Meaning “to stick; sticky”

Q: How can I remember the character 粘 easily?

Imagine sticky rice (米) that occupies (占) your hands — it is hard to remove because it is so sticky. This visual helps you recall that 粘 means sticky or to stick.

Q: What should I watch out for when writing the character 粘?

The left radical 米 is written with a horizontal stroke crossing through the vertical, and the right part 占 has a dot on top. A common mistake is making the 米 too wide or forgetting the dot on 占, which changes the appearance.

Q: How do I tell 粘 apart from its similar characters 籼 and 籽?

粘 (nián, sticky) has the rice radical and means sticky, while 籼 (xiān, a type of rice) also has rice but a different right side and refers to long-grain rice. 籽 (zǐ, seed) has the grain radical on the left and means seed, not sticky.

Q: Where is the character 粘 used in modern Chinese?

粘 appears in words like 粘贴 (zhān tiē, to paste) for computer commands and 粘稠 (nián chóu, viscous) for thick liquids. It is not in HSK, but you will see it on glue products or in recipes describing sticky textures.

Q: What common words use 粘?

Common words containing 粘 include: 粘贴 (zhān tiē) — to paste; to stick; 粘连 (zhān lián) — Adhesion; to stick together.; 粘稠 (nián chóu) — Thick and sticky; viscous..

nián/zhān HSK Level 7 11 strokes Radical: 米

粘 (nián/zhān) means "to stick; sticky" in Chinese. It has 11 strokes with the radical 米, and is HSK Level 7.

Rated 4.2/5 in difficulty (advanced).

Harder than 79% of HSK Level 7 characters.

Appears in 4+ common words including 粘贴 (zhān tiē), 粘连 (zhān lián), 粘稠 (nián chóu).

Due to its 11 strokes, Hanzi Writer's error detection shows 粘 requires focused practice — most learners need 10+ attempts for consistent accuracy.

Practice Writing 粘 (nián/zhān)

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

App Store ▶ Google Play

How to Write 粘

The character 粘 (nián/zhān) is written with 11 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 米 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 nián/zhān (粘) Mean in Chinese?

粘 means to stick; sticky.

This is a polyphonic character with readings: nián, zhān.

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

Character Data

Character	粘
Pinyin	nián / zhān (nian/zhan)
Meaning	to stick; sticky
Strokes	11
Radical	米
HSK Level	7
Difficulty	4.2/5

Origin of 粘

粘 combines the radical 米 (rice) and the phonetic component 占 (zhàn). Cooked rice is naturally sticky, so 米 directly hints at the meaning of stickiness. The right part 占 adds the sound and may visually suggest something adhering or occupying a surface.

💡 Memory Tip: Picture a sticky pile of rice (米) that you accidentally 'occupy' (占) by getting it all over your hands.

Common Words with 粘

粘贴 zhān tiē

to paste; to stick

粘连 zhān lián

Adhesion; to stick together.

粘稠 nián chóu

Thick and sticky; viscous.

粘性 zhān xìng

Stickiness; viscosity.

Example Sentences

请将这张海报粘贴在教室后方的宣传栏上。

qǐng jiāng zhè zhāng hǎi bào zhān tiē zài jiào shì hòu fāng de xuān chuán lán shàng

Please paste this poster on the bulletin board at the back of the classroom.

伤口上的纱布有些粘连，撕开时要格外小心。

shāng kǒu shàng de shā bù yǒu xiē zhān lián sī kāi shí yào gé wài xiǎo xīn

The gauze on the wound is sticking a bit; be extra careful when removing it.

这种糯米粥煮得非常粘稠，口感软糯。

zhè zhǒng nuò mǐ zhōu zhǔ dé fēi cháng nián chóu kǒu gǎn ruǎn nuò

This glutinous rice porridge is cooked very thick and has a soft, sticky texture.

这种胶水的粘性很强，可以用来修补瓷器。

zhè zhǒng jiāo shuǐ de zhān xìng hěn qiáng kě yǐ yòng lái xiū bǔ cí qì

This glue is very sticky and can be used to repair porcelain.

Similar Characters Comparison

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
粘 (current)	nián / zhān	11	米
籼	xiān	9	米
籽	zǐ	9	米
粉	fěn	10	米

Practice Writing 粘 (nián/zhān)

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

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

App Store ▶ Google Play

Frequently Asked Questions about 粘

What is the structure of 粘 and how does it relate to its meaning?

粘 is made of the radical 米 (rice) on the left and 占 (zhàn, to occupy) on the right. Rice can be cooked into a sticky substance, and 占 hints at the sound, so together they suggest something sticky that clings to surfaces.

How can I remember the character 粘 easily?

What should I watch out for when writing the character 粘?

How do I tell 粘 apart from its similar characters 籼 and 籽?

Where is the character 粘 used in modern Chinese?

What common words use 粘?

How to Write 粘 (nián/zhān) — Meaning “to stick; sticky”

Practice Writing 粘 (nián/zhān)

How to Write 粘

What Does nián/zhān (粘) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 粘

Common Words with 粘

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 粘 (nián/zhān)

Frequently Asked Questions about 粘

More HSK Level 7 Characters

Characters with Radical 米

Other 11-Stroke Characters