What does 占 mean in Chinese?

占 (zhàn) means "to take possession of; to occupy; to take up" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 5.

How do you pronounce 占?

占 is pronounced "zhàn" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 4.

What HSK level is 占?

占 is an HSK 5 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 5 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 占?

Common words with 占 include 占线 (busy (telephone line)), 占有 (to have), 占领 (to occupy (a territory)), 占据 (to occupy), 占中 (Occupy Central, Hong Kong civil disobedience movement (September 2014 -)).

How do you write 占?

You can practice writing 占 using our stroke order tool.

占 (zhàn), to take possession of

占

zhàn

to take possession of; to occupy; to take up

HSK 5verb

Character Breakdown

Radical: 卜 (no. 25)

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) to take possession of
to occupy
to take up

Example Sentences

我们需要占。

Wǒmen xūyào zhàn

We need occupy

Words Containing 占

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
占线	zhàn xiàn	busy (telephone line)	HSK 5
占有	zhàn yǒu	to have	HSK 6
占领	zhàn lǐng	to occupy (a territory)	HSK 7-9
占据	zhàn jù	to occupy	HSK 6

→

一介不取(yī jiè bù qǔ)· to not even take a penny (as a bribe)

→

一手包办(yī shǒu bāo bàn)· to take care of a matter all by oneself

→

一柱擎天(yī zhù qíng tiān)· lit. to support the sky as a single pillar (idiom)

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 5
HSK 2.0: HSK 5
HSK Lord study list: HSK 2 list

占: HSK 5 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 5 exam

Studying for HSK 5? Keep 占 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 5 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.

占