悬 (xuán) - to hang & to suspend

悬Tone 2

xuán ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

信嫣

悬 · xuán

to hang;

to suspend;

to be pending;

unresolved;

dangerous;

precarious;

to worry about

to hangto suspendto be pending

Usage highlights

to hangcliffsuspended animationpending caseto worrysuspense novel

Synonyms

  • 挂— to hang; to put up
  • 吊— to hang; to suspend
  • 垂— to hang down; to droop

Antonyms

  • 落— to fall; to drop down
  • 放— to put down; to release
  • 解— to solve; to resolve

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The chandelier hangs from the ceiling (悬在天花板上).
  • The case is still pending (案件悬而未决).
  • There is a steep cliff ahead (前面是悬崖).
  • I'm worried about his safety (我悬着他的安全).

Collocations

  • to hang(悬挂)
  • cliff(悬崖)
  • suspended animation(悬停)
  • pending case(悬案)
  • to worry(悬心)
  • suspense novel(悬疑小说)

Idioms

  • A pending case that has not been solved for a long time(悬而未决)
  • To hang a beam and use a thorn as a pestle(悬梁刺股)
  • A steep cliff and a thousand zhang ravine(悬崖峭壁)
  • To hang a sheep's head but sell dog meat(悬羊头卖狗肉)
  • To solve a difficult problem and remove a hanging noose(解悬排难)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese architecture, 'suspended' structures like hanging temples (悬空寺) demonstrate engineering ingenuity.
  • The idiom '悬梁刺股' reflects the extreme dedication to studying in imperial examination culture.
  • The character appears in many terms related to suspense and uncertainty in literature and drama.

FAQ