HanziGuru.痕 · hén
痕
hén[hen2]Tone 2

scar, trace

HSK 7
Guru Deep Dive

English · scar, trace

Cached lesson
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Topology:Left-right
Strokes:10
Writing Balance Rule: The left side (the sickness radical 疒) forms a protective roof structure, while the right side (艮 gèn) nests underneath comfortably without crowding.
1. Meaning

scar, mark, or residual trace

vestigescratch markindication
NounNeutral#body#injuries#abstract traces
Sample Usage
  • 伤痕
    shāng hén
    scar, bruise
  • 泪痕
    lèi hén
    tear stain
2. Sound
/[xən³⁵]/Tone: 35
痕
hénhen2
++
´(35)
=hén
Build the syllable
Step-by-step blending
hen
Tone mark placement: Tone mark sits on "e" per main-vowel priority (a > e > o; in -iu/-ui the mark takes the second vowel).
Initial Consonant
h
Type: Velar Fricative
Sounds like: h as in hat
Unaspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: Gentle throat friction (like fogging glasses on a cold day).
Tongue & Mouth Position: Glottis open with air friction passing through the back of the throat.
Final Rhyme
en
Vowel Group: -e vowel group
Sounds like: -en rhymes with en in 'pen' or un in 'sun'
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'uhn'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T2 (35)
2nd Tone (Mid-Rising)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 2 rises like a question in English: 'What?' or 'Really?'
👂
Listening trap: Mistaking the nasal ending -en for -eng or confusing it with Tone 4 hèng.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: A rising hand sweep upward from left to right, matching the upward bounce of Tone 2.
3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 10 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left side (the sickness radical 疒) forms a protective roof structure, while the right side (艮 gèn) nests underneath comfortably without crowding.

4. Components

Radical 疒 · Sickness Radical (Sickness, bed, physical ailments or injuries)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 疒 (Indicates physical afflictions, wounds, or bodily damage)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 艮 (original sound: gèn / hén)

A physical sickness or injury (疒) stops right there and leaves behind a boundary mark or solid limit (艮 gèn).

  • 疒 sickness or injury
  • 艮 firm, stopping point, provides sound
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Combined from 疒 (illness/injury) and 艮 (to halt/firm), representing a firm mark or scar left behind after a bodily injury or illness heals.

Semantic Evolution: Originally denoting physical scars from wounds or diseases, it broadened over time to cover any lingering trace, mark, or stain left behind by events or emotions (like tear stains).

  • The right component 艮 originally depicted a human eye turning backward, symbolizing a stoppage or limit.
6. Sinosphere
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: コン / Kun: きず
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
흔
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story

When you are sick in bed (疒), it leaves a firm, lasting mark or scar (hén) that stays behind forever.

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
艮
gěnblunt; toughPhonetic Core (声旁)
很
hěnvery+ 彳 (stepping)
跟
gēnheel / to follow / with+ 足 (foot)
眼
yǎneye+ 目 (eye)
Explore this family →
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
很(hěn)
很 uses the walking person radical (彳) for grammar, while 痕 uses the sickness/injury radical (疒) for physical marks.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
他手臂上留下一道深深的[___]。
Clue: hén
Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing it with 很 (hěn - very) because they share the same phonetic component 艮 and differ only in their radicals.

Memory Prompts
Recognition: What does 痕 mean and how is it read?
Production: How do you write the character for 'scar' or 'trace' (hén)?
Real-World Video Context

Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.

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