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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'suspending' with 悬 (xuán)

    Actions & Events
    Location & Position

    Structure

    Subject + 悬 + 在 + Location / 悬挂

    Explanation

    The verb 悬 (xuán) means 'to suspend,' 'to hang,' or 'to dangle.' It describes something being held up in the air without support from below. It is used for both literal suspension, such as an object hanging in mid-air, and figurative uses like unresolved matters (悬而未决).

    Examples

    • 一盏红灯笼悬在大门上方。

      yì zhǎn hóng dēnglóng xuán zài dàmén shàngfāng.

      A red lantern hung above the main gate.

    • 这件事一直悬而未决，大家都很着急。

      zhè jiàn shì yìzhí xuán ér wèi jué, dàjiā dōu hěn zhāojí.

      This matter has remained unresolved, and everyone is very anxious.

    • 一座吊桥悬在两座山峰之间。

      yí zuò diàoqiáo xuán zài liǎng zuò shānfēng zhījiān.

      A suspension bridge hung between two mountain peaks.

    Expressing 'suspending' with 悬 (xuán) | Chinese Grammar