Writing Balance Rule: The left side (尸) should be slightly narrower, sheltering the right component (𢂋) which features a sweeping diagonal stroke.
1. Meaning
to spread out or exhibit
to open upto put into effectto postponesurname Zhan
VerbNeutral#action#exhibition#movement
Sample Usage
博物馆正在举办艺术展。
bówùguǎn zhèngzài jǔbàn yìshù zhǎn.
The museum is currently holding an art exhibition.
请把地图展开。
qǐng bǎ dìtú zhǎnkāi.
Please unfold the map.
2. Sound
/[t͡ʂän³⁵]/Tone: 35
展
zhǎnzhan3
|
++
ˇ(214)
=zhǎn
Initial Consonant
zh
Type: Unaspirated Retroflex
Sounds like: j/dr retroflex sound
UnaspiratedRetroflex
Airflow Tactile Test: No burst of air. Tongue curled up. Tissue stays still.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Tongue tip curled back near hard palate
Final Rhyme
an
Vowel Group: -a vowel group
Sounds like: an rhymes with 'on' in 'con' or 'an' in 'art' without the r
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'ahn'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T3 (214)
2 → 1 → 4 (214)
3rd Tone (Low-Dipping)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 3 dips down then rises up like asking a question in English: 'Really?'
Sandhi: When followed by another 3rd tone syllable, zhǎn changes to a 2nd tone (rising), though the written pinyin remains unchanged.
👂
Listening trap: Confusing the retroflex initial 'zh-' with the alveolar-palatal 'j-' or retroflex 'ch-'. Make sure 'zh' remains unaspirated.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: Start with your hand at a medium height and sweep it upward sharply like an airplane taking off, mimicking the rising pitch of Tone 2/3.
3. Writing
Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 10 strokes
Writing Balance Rule: The left side (尸) should be slightly narrower, sheltering the right component (𢂋) which features a sweeping diagonal stroke.
4. Components
Radical尸 · Corpse Radical (body, corpse, house structure)
Semantic Clue (形旁):尸 (indicates a structural covering or body shape)
A body or framework (尸) holding up or unfolding tools/parts (戔) to display them fully.
尸 body or framework
戔 small or sharp pieces spread out
Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
5· Phonetic Root: 展 (zhǎn)
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)
Origin: Originally depicted a person or framework associated with opening, stretching, or rolling out fabrics and scrolls.
Semantic Evolution: Shifted from physical stretching and unfolding of objects to abstract meanings like exhibitions, putting policies into effect, or postponing time.
Often used in ancient times for unrolling silk scrolls or imperial edicts.
6. Sinosphere
🇻🇳
Sino-Vietnamese
triển
The Sino-Vietnamese reading 'triển' corresponds closely with Mandarin 'zhǎn'.
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: テン / Kun: ひろ.げる, ひろ.がる
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
전
Sound Shift Bridge: The retroflex initial zh- in Mandarin often corresponds to tr- or ch- in historical loans and related Sino-Xenic readings.
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story
Imagine walking into a body (尸) of work where sharp, small art pieces (戔) are spread out and exhibited for everyone to see at an art show.
Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
栈
zhànscaffolding, warehouseAdded wood radical (木) for wooden scaffolding or storage.
战
zhànwar, battleAdded spear radical (戈) representing weapons in battle.
盏
zhǎncup, small containerAdded dish/vessel bottom (皿) for a small drinking cup.
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
战(zhàn)
展 uses 尸 and 戔 (exhibition), while 战 uses 戈 (weapons/war).
盏(zhǎn)
展 has 尸 on the left, whereas 盏 has 戔 on top of 皿.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
学校下周要举办一次科技[___]。
Clue: zhǎn
Common Learner Pitfall
Confusing 展 with 战 due to similar phonetic elements, or mispronouncing the retroflex initial zh- as a dental z-.
Memory Prompts
Recognition: When you see the character 展, what is its primary meaning and Pinyin?
Production: How do you write the character for 'to exhibit / exhibition' (zhǎn)?
Real-World Video Context
Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.
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展zhǎnto spread out, to exhibit
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