欠
Character learning workspace

qiàn · to lack, to owe

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 5HSK 3.0 · Level 5Frequency #2126
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Learn every stroke in 欠

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 欠 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

欠
Complete decomposition unavailableThis character is currently indexed as a single visual form.
Writing notes

Shape and proportion

4Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Single-componentCharacter structure

Keep the whole form centered inside the writing square.

欠Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 欠 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 欠

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

qiànWords pronounced qiàn
qianWords pronounced qian
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 欠 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ men quē yǎng shí jiù huì dǎ hāqian.我们缺氧时就会打哈欠。

We yawn when we are short of oxygen.

Source: Tatoeba #10460425 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ bú qiàn zhài.我不欠债。

I have no debt.

Source: Tatoeba #10190477 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Bú yào dǎ hāqian.不要打哈欠。

Don't yawn.

Source: Tatoeba #14014812 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ qiàn wǒ yí gè rén qíng.你欠我一个人情。

You owe me a favor.

Source: Tatoeba #9959182 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tāng mǔ bǎ qiàn wǒ de qián hái gěi wǒ le.汤姆把欠我的钱还给我了。

Tom paid me back the money that he owed me.

Source: Tatoeba #8589654 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ qiàn le hěn duō qián.我欠了很多钱。

I owe a lot of money.

Source: Tatoeba #4517817 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 欠 in context

  1. Say qiàn, then recall the core meaning: to lack, to owe.
  2. Write all 4 strokes while keeping the single-component balanced.
  3. Use it in 欠缺 (qiàn quē), meaning “to be deficient in”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 欠 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.