HSK 6, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 丷, rank #1852, Hard
兰
lán
abbr. for Lanzhou 蘭州|兰州[Lan2 zhou1], Gansu
HSK 6, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 丷, rank #1852, Hard
兰
lán
lily magnolia (木蘭|木兰)
HSK 6, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 丷, rank #1852, Hard
lán(Lan2) T2
1orchid; elegant, graceful
2abbr. for Lanzhou 蘭州|兰州[Lan2 zhou1], Gansu
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March 24, 2026
兰(蘭)lán(Lan2)
The character 兰 (lán) primarily means 'orchid,' which is associated with elegance and grace in Chinese culture. It can also be a surname and is used as an abbreviation for Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province. The character conveys a sense of beauty and refinement, often linked to traditional aesthetics.
Strokes5Radical丷Frequency#1852DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, orchids symbolize nobility and refinement, often celebrated in poetry and art. The character 兰 is also associated with the traditional values of elegance and grace, making it a popular choice in names and literature.
Memory Tip
Imagine a graceful dancer (兰) surrounded by beautiful orchids. The character has a 'woman' radical on the left (女), symbolizing feminine beauty, and the right side resembles a plant, reinforcing the connection to nature and elegance.
Meanings of 兰
lán(Lan2)
1orchid; elegant, graceful
2abbr. for Lanzhou 蘭州|兰州[Lan2 zhou1], Gansu
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 兰
兰Simplified
蘭Traditional
5Strokes
丷Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateCEFRC1
Podcast: 兰
Podcast: 兰
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AI Study Notes for 兰
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a graceful dancer (兰) surrounded by beautiful orchids. The character has a 'woman' radical on the left (女), symbolizing feminine beauty, and the right side resembles a plant, reinforcing the connection to nature and elegance.
Usage Notes
兰 is often used in literary contexts or when discussing flowers and beauty. Be cautious with the pronunciation; it must be pronounced with the second tone (lán) to avoid confusion with other characters. Common collocations include 兰花 (lánhuā), meaning 'orchid flower.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 兰 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it connects with other HSK vocabulary related to plants and beauty. Learners should focus on its pronunciation and usage in cultural contexts, as well as its role in compound words.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, orchids symbolize nobility and refinement, often celebrated in poetry and art. The character 兰 is also associated with the traditional values of elegance and grace, making it a popular choice in names and literature.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 兰 as 'lǎn' with a falling tone, which is incorrect. The correct form is 'lán.' Additionally, some might confuse it with similar characters like 琳 (lín), which has a different meaning and is pronounced differently.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 兰
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Grammar Patterns of 兰
兰 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他对于法国、德国和荷____的文学了如指掌。
He was well acquainted with the literature of France, Germany and Holland.
Example Sentences for 兰 (10)
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1
他对于法国、德国和荷兰的文学了如指掌。
tā duì yú fǎ guó、 、 dé guó hé hé lán de wén xué le rú zhǐ。
He was well acquainted with the literature of France, Germany and Holland.
2
那个节目将包括英格兰与爱尔兰比赛的实况报道。
nà gè jié mù jiāng bāo kuò yīng gé lán yǔ ài ěr lán bǐ sài de shí kuàng bào dào。
That programme will include live commentary on the England-Ireland game.
3
兰德尔这个时候应该正在拿周日的报纸。
lán dé ěr zhè gè shí hòu yīng gāi zhèng zài ná zhōu rì de bào zhǐ。
Randall would just now be getting the Sunday paper.
If you'll bear with me, Frank, just let me try to explain.
5
正如1892年剧本的副标题所强调的，《凯瑟琳》是一部“爱尔兰戏剧”。
zhèng rú1892 1892 nián jù běn de fù biāo tí suǒ qiáng tiáo，《 de ，《 kǎi》 sè lín 》“ shì yī bù “ ài”。
"Kathleen" was, as its 1892 subtitle asserted, "An Irish Drama".
6
斯特兰德街是伦敦最繁华、最富足的街道之一。
sī tè lán dé jiē shì lún dūn zuì fán huá、 、 zuì fù zú de jiē dào zhī。
The Strand is one of London's busiest and most affluent streets.
7
渡船是苏格兰边远地区的生命线。
dù chuán shì sū gé lán biān yuǎn dì qū de shēng mìng xiàn。
Ferries are a lifeline to the far-flung corners of Scotland.
8
弗兰开始不由自主地唠叨起乔恩是怎样无可避免地被扣留的。
fú lán kāi shǐ bù yóu zì zhǔ dì lào tāo qǐ qiáo ēn shì zěn yàng wú kě bì miǎn dì bèi kòu liú de。
Fran began her automatic patter about how Jon had been unavoidably detained.
9
她告诉我们她是某苏格兰勋爵的后裔。
tā gào sù wǒ mén tā shì mǒu sū gé lán xūn jué de hòu yì。
She told us she was descended from some Scottish Lord.
10
他断定富兰克林一定是得了重感冒。
tā duàn dìng fù lán kè lín yī dìng shì dé le zhòng gǎn mào。
He decided Franklin must be suffering from a bad cold.
Cultural Notes for 兰
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, orchids symbolize nobility and refinement, often celebrated in poetry and art. The character 兰 is also associated with the traditional values of elegance and grace, making it a popular choice in names and literature.
Word Family of 兰
Words Containing This Character20
兰lánlily magnolia (木蘭|木兰)蘭
米兰Milano米蘭
荷兰Holland荷蘭
弗兰克Frank (name)弗蘭克
爱尔兰Ireland愛爾蘭
英格兰England英格蘭
苏格兰Scotland蘇格蘭
波兰Poland波蘭
乌克兰Ukraine烏克蘭
兰州Lanzhou prefecture-level city and capital of Gansu province 甘肅|甘肃[Gānsù]蘭州
新西兰New Zealand新西蘭
芬兰Finland芬蘭
兰花cymbidium蘭花
伊斯兰Islam伊斯蘭
亚特兰大Atlanta亞特蘭大
木兰Hua Mulan, legendary woman warrior (c. fifth century), Northern dynasties folk hero recorded in Sui and Tang literature木蘭
格兰特Grant (name)格蘭特
法兰克福Frankfurt (Germany)法蘭克福
斯里兰卡Sri Lanka斯里蘭卡
白兰地brandy (loanword)白蘭地
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 兰 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 兰
When used in a name, 兰 often symbolizes elegance and beauty, reflecting the positive qualities of the orchid.
While not commonly used in daily conversation, 兰 appears frequently in literary contexts and discussions about nature.
兰 is pronounced as 'lán' with a rising tone, which is crucial to distinguish it from other similar characters.
