咽
Character learning workspace

yān / yè / yàn · throat

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

HSK 3.0 · Level 7-9Frequency #9313
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Learn every stroke in 咽

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

咽 has 3 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

yān

throat; pharynx; narrow pass

咽喉yān hóu · throat
yè

to choke (in crying)

抽咽chōu yè · to sob
yàn

to swallow

哽咽gěng yàn · to choke with emotion
Step-by-step explorer

See how 咽 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.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

9Total 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.

口Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 咽 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 咽

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

yèto choke (in crying)
yànto swallow
yānthroat; pharynx; narrow pass
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Example sentences

Notice where 咽 sits in each complete thought.

Tā láng tūn hǔ yàn dì chī le yí dùn.他狼吞虎咽地吃了一顿。

He devoured his meal.

Source: Tatoeba #334763 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Lǎo rén yàn xià le zuì hòu yì kǒu qì.老人咽下了最后一口气。

The old man breathed his last.

Source: Tatoeba #8936667 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā láng tūn hǔ yàn dì chī le shí wù.他狼吞虎咽地吃了食物。

He wolfed down the food.

Source: Tatoeba #13946741 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Bié láng tūn hǔ yàn de. nǐ zuì hǎo xì jiáo màn yàn dì chī.别狼吞虎咽的。你最好细嚼慢咽地吃。

Stop inhaling your food. You should eat a little slower.

Source: Tatoeba #2581495 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Bù hē shuǐ wǒ yàn bú xià zhè xiē yào piàn.不喝水我咽不下这些药片。

I can't swallow these tablets without a drink of water.

Source: Tatoeba #1964250 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 咽 in context

  1. Say yān / yè / yàn, then recall the core meaning: throat.
  2. Write all 9 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 哽咽 (gěng yàn), meaning “to choke with emotion”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 咽 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.