玷 (diàn) - A flaw, blemish, or stain & to disgrace or tarnish

玷Tone 4

diàn ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical: 王

橙丁

玷 · diàn

A flaw, blemish, or stain;

to disgrace or tarnish;

originally refers to a flaw in jade.

A flaw, blemish, or stainto disgrace or tarnishoriginally refers to a flaw in jade.

Usage highlights

To stain/to tarnishA flaw in jadeTo disgrace the family nameA spot/a blemishTo defile/to sullyMoral flaw

Synonyms

  • 瑕— flaw (in jade); defect
  • 污— stain; dirty
  • 疵— flaw; blemish

Antonyms

  • 纯— pure; unadulterated
  • 洁— clean; pure
  • 完美— perfect; flawless

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • A flaw in a piece of jade (白圭之玷).
  • This incident tarnished his reputation (玷污了他的名声).
  • There is a small blemish on this gemstone (这块宝石上有个小玷).
  • Her record remains unblemished (她的记录没有玷污).

Collocations

  • To stain/to tarnish(玷污)
  • A flaw in jade(玉玷)
  • To disgrace the family name(玷辱门楣)
  • A spot/a blemish(瑕玷)
  • To defile/to sully(玷染)
  • Moral flaw(玷缺)

Idioms

  • A flaw in white jade(白圭之玷)
  • A fly in the ointment(美中不足之玷)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, jade (玉) is highly valued for its purity and beauty; a flaw (玷) significantly reduces its value.
  • The character is often used metaphorically to describe moral stains or dishonor, reflecting the Confucian emphasis on moral integrity.
  • The radical 王 (玉, jade) indicates its original association with jade and precious stones.

FAQ