DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

串

Mandarin · pinyin chuàn

to string together
to skewer
to connect wrongly
to gang up
to rove
string
bunch
skewer
classifier for things that are strung together, or in a bunch, or in a row: string of, bunch of, series of
to make a swift or abrupt linear movement (like a bead on an abacus)
to move across

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串: chuàn · string; relatives; conspire

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Mandarin tones

4 · chuan4

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1character link5same-tone records

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 17 senses · 2 Cantonese readings

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

cyun3 · gwaan3

Cantonese word readings for 串. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

character · Etymology 1

to string together; to link up
string; chain; series of objects
skewer
Classifier for strung, bunched or clustered objects.
to cross; to criss-cross; to traverse to; to mix (undesirably)
(literary, or in compounds) to gang up on; to conspire; to collaborate
to pay a visit to; to visit; to move about
(literary, or in compounds) to play a role; to act; to perform
(chiefly Taiwan, Internet) thread
(Cantonese) to spell (a word in letters)
(Cantonese, slang) cocksure; arrogant; cocky
(Cantonese, slang) to humiliate; to provoke

character · Etymology 2

(obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to get close to; to fawn on; to be obsequious to; to curry favor with
(obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) people on intimate terms
(obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) habit; custom
(obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to joke; to banter

character · Etymology 3

used in 串夷

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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