演
Character learning workspace

yǎn · to perform, to act, to put on a play

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

HSK 3.0 · Level 4Frequency #1613
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Learn every stroke in 演

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 演 is constructed

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

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

14Total strokes

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

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

氵Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 演 writing sheet

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Vocabulary in context

Common words with 演

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

yǎnWords pronounced yǎn
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Example sentences

Notice where 演 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ duì wǒ jīn tiān de biǎo yǎn bù mǎn yì.我对我今天的表演不满意。

I am not satisfied with my performance today.

Source: Tatoeba #1020164 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Yǒu bù shǎo rén qù kàn le yǎn chàng huì.有不少人去看了演唱會。

Quite a few people went to the concert.

Source: Tatoeba #13573868 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ jīn tiān qù kàn yǎn chū le.我今天去看演出了。

I went to see a show today.

Source: Tatoeba #1291229 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā bú shì gē shǒu, dàn shì gè yǎn yuán.他不是歌手,但是个演员。

He is not a singer, but an actor.

Source: Tatoeba #334209 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā shì gè fù yǒu cái néng de nián qīng dǎo yǎn.他是个富有才能的年轻导演。

He is a talented young director.

Source: Tatoeba #6682954 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ bù néng zhuā dào tā yǎn jiǎng de zhòng diǎn.我不能抓到他演讲的重点。

I couldn't get the point of his speech.

Source: Tatoeba #4621004 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 演 in context

  1. Say yǎn, then recall the core meaning: to perform, to act, to put on a play.
  2. Write all 14 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 表演 (biǎo yǎn), meaning “play”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 演 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.