What does 染 mean in Chinese?

染 (rǎn) means "to dye; to catch (a disease); to acquire (bad habits etc); to contaminate; to add color washes to a painting" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 6.

How do you pronounce 染?

染 is pronounced "rǎn" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 3.

What HSK level is 染?

染 is an HSK 6 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 6 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 染?

Common words with 染 include 传染 (to infect), 感染 (infection), 印染 (printing and dyeing), 传染性 (infectious), 传染源 (source of an infection).

How do you write 染?

You can practice writing 染 using our stroke order tool.

染 (rǎn), to dye

染

rǎn

to dye; to catch (a disease); to acquire (bad habits etc); to contaminate

HSK 6verb

Character Breakdown

Radical: 木 (no. 75)

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) to dye
to catch (a disease)
to acquire (bad habits etc)
to contaminate
to add color washes to a painting

Example Sentences

她把头发染成了红色。

Tā bǎ tóufa rǎn chéng le hóngsè

She dyed her hair red

Words Containing 染

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
传染	chuán rǎn	to infect	HSK 6
感染	gǎn rǎn	infection	HSK 6
印染	yìn rǎn	printing and dyeing
传染性	chuán rǎn xìng	infectious
传染源

Related Words

得(dé)· to obtain

→

渲染(xuàn rǎn)· rendering (computing)

→

染上(rǎn shàng)· to catch (a disease)

→

染病(rǎn bìng)· to catch an illness

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 6
HSK 2.0: HSK 6
HSK Lord study list: HSK 5 list

染: HSK 6 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 6 exam

Studying for HSK 6? Keep 染 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 6 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.