variant of 暗

JLPT N2 13 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character primarily means "dark" or "dim," referring to places or situations lacking light. It can describe physical darkness, such as a room or night, but also metaphorical darkness, like hidden or secretive contexts.

Common Collocations

  • (àn chù): a dark place, often used literally or figuratively for hidden spots.
  • 暗示 (ànshì): to hint or imply something indirectly.
  • (tiānsè àn le): the sky has darkened, indicating evening or bad weather.

Usage Notes

When using , it often conveys a sense of low visibility or secrecy. It can be used both as an adjective and in compound words. Be careful not to confuse with related words like (hēi), which means "black" but can also mean "dark"; emphasizes the absence of light rather than color.

Register and Tone

is neutral in tone and commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese. It is appropriate in formal and informal contexts.

Common Confusion

Avoid mixing with when describing colors; use for darkness or dimness and for the color black itself.

Example Sentences

The room is very dark, you can hardly see anything.

He always likes to think about problems in the dark.

He hinted that he did not want to participate in this event.