愆
How to Say
How to Write
Meaning: fault
💡 Think 'can't' (qiān) as in 'can't avoid fault' – heart (心) + flow (衍) of error.
Compounds
Character Story & Explanation
Detective’s note: 愆 (qiān) means 'fault' or 'transgression'. Its radical 心 (heart) suggests emotional wrongdoing. Originally written as 諐 (言+心, words+heart), it evolved to 愆 (心+衍). This character often appears in classical texts describing moral errors or delays. In modern Chinese, it’s used in formal contexts like '愆期' (delay) or '愆尤' (fault). Its cultural weight lies in Confucian emphasis on self-correction.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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