Chinese character · HSK 6
串 (chuàn) — “to string together / skewer”
The character is a direct pictogram of two items pierced through the center and strung together by a single stick or string.
How to remember 串
Two square items strung perfectly on a single vertical skewer.
Inside the character
- 口 (mouth) — meaning component. Often marks speaking, eating, or any opening.
- 丨 (vertical line) — meaning component. A single vertical stroke — usually a structural piece rather than a meaning carrier.
Where 串 comes from
In oracle bone script, it was a pure pictogram depicting two or more objects (such as coins, shells, or pieces of meat) threaded together on a single line.


Words that use 串
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 客串 | kè chuàn | guest appearance / cameo | HSK 6 |
| 肉串 | ròu chuàn | meat skewer / kebab | HSK 6 |
| 串门 | chuàn mén | to call on sb / to drop in | HSK 7 |
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More characters: 付 (fù, to pay / to hand over) · 任 (rèn, to appoint / responsibility) · 休 (xiū, to rest) — or browse the full character library.