伞
umbrella
HSK level
- Pinyin
- sǎn
- Part of speech
- noun
- Level
- HSK 3
- Strokes
- 6
- Register
- neutral
- Measure word
- 把
Stroke order for 伞
伞 is written with 6 strokes. The animation replays automatically.
What does 伞 mean?
伞 (sǎn) means 'umbrella' — including both rain umbrellas (雨伞 yǔsǎn) and sun parasols (阳伞 yángsǎn or 太阳伞 tàiyángsǎn).
In daily speech, 伞 alone usually means a rain umbrella; if context isn't clear, people say 雨伞. The measure word is 把 (bǎ), used for things with a handle: 一把伞 ('one umbrella'). The character 伞 is a brilliant pictograph — the top resembles the canopy and the bottom shows the spokes and handle.
Don't gift an umbrella to a friend in Chinese culture: 伞 (sǎn) sounds like 散 (sàn, 'to part / break up'), an inauspicious word for relationships. Common verbs: 打伞 ('hold up an umbrella / use one'), 收伞 ('close an umbrella'), 带伞 ('bring an umbrella').
Memory hook: Look at the character: the top is the canopy, the four small marks are the spokes, the bottom stroke is the handle. It IS an umbrella.
Example sentences
下雨了，你带伞了吗？
Xiàyǔ le, nǐ dài sǎn le ma?
It's raining — did you bring an umbrella?
spoken
我有一把红色的伞。
Wǒ yǒu yì bǎ hóngsè de sǎn.
I have a red umbrella.
spoken
外面在下雨，请打伞。
Wàimiàn zài xiàyǔ, qǐng dǎ sǎn.
It's raining outside — please use an umbrella.
neutral
我忘了带伞，全身都湿了。
Wǒ wàng le dài sǎn, quán shēn dōu shī le.
I forgot to bring an umbrella and got completely soaked.
spoken
Common phrases with 伞
Synonyms
雨伞 specifies a rain umbrella. 伞 alone defaults to rain umbrella in most contexts but can refer to any umbrella. When clarity matters (sun vs rain), use 雨伞 / 太阳伞.
Don't confuse 伞 with
散 (sàn) means 'to scatter / to break up / to disperse.' Same pronunciation as 伞 — this homophone is exactly why Chinese people don't gift umbrellas (it sounds like wishing the relationship to break apart).
Frequently asked questions
Acquire it by listening
Meet 伞 again — in real Chinese, at your level.
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