穿 (chuān) - To wear (clothes) & to put on

穿Tone 1

chuān | 9 strokes | radical: 穴

穿 · chuān

To wear (clothes);

to put on;

to pierce through;

to penetrate;

to pass through;

to thread.

To wear (clothes)to put onto pierce through

Usage highlights

To wear clothesTo pierce throughTo wear shoesTo thread a needleTo penetrateTo wear trousers

Synonyms

  • To wear (typically for accessories like hats, glasses)
  • To wear, to put on (more formal/literary)
  • To drill, to bore through

Antonyms

  • To take off (clothes)
  • To remove, to unload

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I wear clothes every day (穿衣服).
  • The needle pierces through the fabric (穿过布料).
  • We need to pass through the tunnel (穿过隧道).
  • She threads the needle (穿针).

Collocations

  • To wear clothes(穿衣服)
  • To pierce through(穿过)
  • To wear shoes(穿鞋)
  • To thread a needle(穿针)
  • To penetrate(穿透)
  • To wear trousers(穿裤子)

Idioms

  • To see through at a glance(看穿)
  • To wear the same pair of trousers(穿一条裤子)
  • To pierce the bull's eye(百步穿杨)
  • To wear the emperor's new clothes(皇帝的新装)
  • To penetrate the clouds and break the fog(穿云破雾)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character combines 'hole' (穴) and 'tooth' (牙), originally depicting animals using teeth to bore holes.
  • In Chinese culture, 'wearing' carries social significance, indicating status, occasion, and personal style.
  • The concept of 'penetrating' or 'seeing through' is often used metaphorically for insight and understanding.

FAQ