How to Write 扇 (shān/shàn) — Meaning “fan / leaf (of a door)”

Q: What is a good memory trick to remember the character 扇?

Picture a door (户) made of feathers (羽) that you wave back and forth to create a breeze. This silly image helps you remember that 扇 means a fan or something that flaps like a door leaf.

Q: What are key writing tips for the character 扇, including stroke order and common mistakes?

Write the left radical 户 first (3 strokes), then the right part 羽 (6 strokes). Make sure the 户 is narrow and the 羽 is wider. A common mistake is adding an extra hook in 羽—the second 习's hook is subtle and should not be exaggerated.

Q: How can I tell 扇 apart from similar characters like 戽 and 戾?

戽 (hù) means a water scoop and uses 斗 (a dipper) on the right side, not 羽. 戾 (lì) means 'perverse' and has 犬 (dog) on the right. Only 扇 uses 羽, which directly relates to feathers and fans.

Q: In what contexts is 扇 used in modern Chinese, and does it have any cultural significance?

扇 appears in words like 扇子 (fan) and 扇风 (to create a breeze). It is also used for door panels (门扇). Culturally, folding fans (折扇) are iconic in Chinese opera, dance, and calligraphy, making 扇 a symbol of elegance and tradition.

Q: What common words use 扇?

Common words containing 扇 include: 扇子 (shàn zi) — fan; 扇面 (shàn miàn) — the surface of a fan; 扇风 (shān fēng) — to fan; to create a breeze.

shān/shàn HSK Level 5 10 strokes Radical: 户

扇 (shān/shàn) means "fan / leaf (of a door)" in Chinese. It has 10 strokes with the radical 户, and is HSK Level 5.

Rated 4.2/5 in difficulty (advanced).

Harder than 69% of HSK Level 5 characters.

Appears in 4+ common words including 扇子 (shàn zi), 扇面 (shàn miàn), 扇风 (shān fēng).

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

Practice Writing 扇 (shān/shàn)

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

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How to Write 扇

The character 扇 (shān/shàn) is written with 10 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 户 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 shān/shàn (扇) Mean in Chinese?

扇 means fan / leaf (of a door).

This is a polyphonic character with readings: shān, shàn.

As an HSK Level 5 character, 扇 is an intermediate-level character.

Character Data

Character	扇
Pinyin	shān / shàn (shan)
Meaning	fan / leaf (of a door)
Strokes	10
Radical	户
HSK Level	5
Difficulty	4.2/5

Origin of 扇

扇 combines the radical 户 (door) with 羽 (feathers). Originally it referred to a door leaf, but later came to mean a fan, as ancient fans were often made of feathers attached to a frame resembling a door. The components visually suggest a door made of feathers, linking to both meanings.

💡 Memory Tip: Imagine a door (户) with feathers (羽) stuck to it, flapping back and forth to cool you like a giant fan.

Common Words with 扇

扇子 shàn zi

fan

扇面 shàn miàn

the surface of a fan

扇风 shān fēng

to fan; to create a breeze

扇耳光 shàn ěr guāng

to slap someone's face

Example Sentences

扇子的扇面上画着一朵漂亮的红牡丹。

shàn zi de shàn miàn shàng huà zhe yī duǒ piào liàng de hóng mǔ dān 。

A beautiful red peony is painted on the surface of the fan.

这把折扇的扇面上绘有精美的山水画。

zhè bǎ zhé shàn de shàn miàn shàng huì yǒu jīng měi de shān shuǐ huà

The surface of this folding fan is painted with exquisite landscape paintings.

坐在电风扇前，阵阵凉风不停地扇风。

zuò zài diàn fēng shàn qián zhèn zhèn liáng fēng bù tíng dì shān fēng

Sitting in front of the electric fan, gusts of cool breeze keep blowing.

这种当众扇耳光的行为是对人格的极大侮辱。

zhè zhǒng dāng zhòng shàn ěr guāng de xíng wéi shì duì rén gé de jí dà wǔ rǔ

Slapping someone in public like this is a great insult to their dignity.

Similar Characters Comparison

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
扇 (current)	shān / shàn	10	户
戽	hù	8	户
戾	lì	8	户
房	fáng	8	户

Practice Writing 扇 (shān/shàn)

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

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about 扇

How is the character 扇 structured, and how do its components relate to its meaning?

扇 combines the radical 户 (door) with 羽 (feathers). The door part connects to the meaning 'leaf of a door,' while the feathers hint at the traditional use of feathers to make a fan. Together, they represent both a fan and a door panel.

What is a good memory trick to remember the character 扇?

What are key writing tips for the character 扇, including stroke order and common mistakes?

How can I tell 扇 apart from similar characters like 戽 and 戾?

In what contexts is 扇 used in modern Chinese, and does it have any cultural significance?

What common words use 扇?

How to Write 扇 (shān/shàn) — Meaning “fan / leaf (of a door)”

Practice Writing 扇 (shān/shàn)

How to Write 扇

What Does shān/shàn (扇) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 扇

Common Words with 扇

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 扇 (shān/shàn)

Frequently Asked Questions about 扇

More HSK Level 5 Characters

Characters with Radical 户

Other 10-Stroke Characters