漢 (hàn) - Han — refers to the Han Chinese ethnicity & the Han dynasty

漢Tone 4

hàn ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

漢 · hàn

Han — refers to the Han Chinese ethnicity;

the Han dynasty;

the Han River;

also used in words for Chinese language and script.

Han — refers to the Han Chinese ethnicitythe Han dynastythe Han River

Usage highlights

Chinese languageChinese charactersHan ethnicityHan dynastyHan RiverHanfu clothing

Synonyms

  • 汉族— Han Chinese (ethnonym)
  • 华— Chinese (as in 华人, overseas Chinese)

Antonyms

  • 女— female (antonym to the 'man' sense in 汉子)
  • 胡— non-Han peoples historically (historical context)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I am learning Chinese (汉语).
  • These are Chinese characters (汉字).
  • She studies Han-dynasty history (汉朝 history).
  • Traditional Han clothing is called Hanfu (汉服).

Collocations

  • Chinese language(汉语)
  • Chinese characters(汉字)
  • Han ethnicity(汉族)
  • Han dynasty(汉朝)
  • Han River(汉江)
  • Hanfu clothing(汉服)

Idioms

  • The Chu–Han Contention(楚汉相争)
  • A clear dividing line(楚河汉界)
  • The righteous and the traitor cannot both stand(汉贼不两立)
  • A hero or true man(好汉)
  • A man of spirit(硬汉)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically linked to the Han River; later extended to the Han dynasty and the Han people.
  • By extension, 'Han' became a shorthand for Chinese language and culture (e.g., 汉语, 汉字).
  • The Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) is considered a golden age in Chinese history, establishing many cultural and political foundations.

FAQ