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March 24, 2026
婪lán(lan2)
The character 婪 (lán) refers to a strong desire for wealth or possessions, often associated with greed and avarice. It is commonly used in contexts discussing moral values or critiques of excessive desire for material goods. Its connotation is generally negative, indicating an insatiable longing that can lead to unethical behavior.
Strokes11Radical女Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, greed is often critiqued in literature and folklore, where avaricious characters face dire consequences. This reflects the Confucian values that emphasize moderation and ethical conduct.
Memory Tip
Imagine a greedy person (represented by 婪) who has a long, insatiable tongue (the radical '女' suggesting femininity) that keeps coveting more and more, as if it could never be satisfied. The pronunciation 'lán' rhymes with 'land', suggesting that this person is always trying to acquire more land and resources.
Meanings of 婪
lán(lan2)
1avaricious
2to covet; covetous, avaricious
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 婪
婪Simplified
11Strokes
女Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 婪
Podcast: 婪
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AI Study Notes for 婪
Quick Contrast
贪 (tān) vs 婪 (lán): use 婪 for a stronger emphasis on greed and avarice, while 贪 conveys a more general sense of greed or desire.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a greedy person (represented by 婪) who has a long, insatiable tongue (the radical '女' suggesting femininity) that keeps coveting more and more, as if it could never be satisfied. The pronunciation 'lán' rhymes with 'land', suggesting that this person is always trying to acquire more land and resources.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 婪 with similar characters that indicate desire but do not carry the same negative connotation. This character is typically used in formal contexts discussing ethics or morality rather than casual conversation. Common collocations include 婪心 (greedy heart) and 婪欲 (avarice).
HSK Study Tips
Although 婪 is not an HSK level character, it can be useful for learners at advanced stages, particularly when studying topics related to morality or human behavior. Focus on understanding its negative implications and how it can be applied in moral discussions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, greed is often critiqued in literature and folklore, where avaricious characters face dire consequences. This reflects the Confucian values that emphasize moderation and ethical conduct.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 婪 with the character 贪 (tān), which also means greedy but is used more commonly in everyday language. For example, saying '他很婪' (tā hěn lán) instead of '他很贪' (tā hěn tān) is incorrect; use 贪 for casual contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 婪
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Grammar Patterns of 婪
婪 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
因此,这个贪____的犹太人就跟慷慨的商人安东尼奥结下了很深的仇恨.
Therefore there was great enmity between this covetous Jew and the generous merchant Antonio.
Example Sentences for 婪 (10)
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1
因此,这个贪婪的犹太人就跟慷慨的商人安东尼奥结下了很深的仇恨.
yīn cǐ, , zhè gè tān lán de yóu tài rén jiù gēn kāng kǎi de shāng rén ān dōng ní ào jié xià le hěn shēn de chóu.
Therefore there was great enmity between this covetous Jew and the generous merchant Antonio.
2
饿狗贪婪地啃食着人的尸体。
è gǒu tān lán dì kěn shí zháo rén de shī tǐ。
Starving dogs feasted on the human corpses.
3
贪婪是七罪宗之一。
tān lán shì qī zuì zōng zhī yī。
Greed is one of the seven deadly sins .
4
男孩抢过一块饼便贪婪地吃起来.
nán hái qiāng guò yī kuài bǐng biàn tān lán dì chī qǐ lái.
The boy snatched a piece of cake and ate it hungrily.
5
那三位姓马默布尔的先生也伸长脖子,贪婪地听着.
nà sān wèi xìng mǎ mò bù ěr de xiān shēng yě shēn cháng bó zǐ, , tān lán dì tīng.
The three Mr. Mumbles bent forward and listened eagerly.
6
他的别墅里满是他贪婪成性的证据。
tā de bié shù lǐ mǎn shì tā tān lán chéng xìng de zhèng jù。
His villa is filled with evidence of his acquisitiveness.
7
他们贪婪地闻着煎鱼铺的香味.
tā mén tān lán dì wén zháo jiān yú pū de xiāng wèi.
They snuffed the smell of the fried - fish shops.
8
那个饿汉贪婪地把食物投入口中.
nà gè è hàn tān lán dì bǎ shí wù tóu rù kǒu zhōng.
The hungry man greedily shovelled the food into his mouth.
9
适合搭配口味偏辣的红肉 、 野禽及婪乳酪.
shì hé dā pèi kǒu wèi piān là de hóng ròu、 、 yě qín jí lán rǔ.
Very spicy red game bird meat, ripe cheese.
10
他抬起头来, 一对贪婪的眼光露出馋涎欲滴的神情.
tā tái qǐ tóu lái, , yī duì tān lán de yǎn guāng lòu chū chán xián yù dī de shén.
He raised his head, with a look of unrestrained greed in his covetous eyes.
Cultural Notes for 婪
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, greed is often critiqued in literature and folklore, where avaricious characters face dire consequences. This reflects the Confucian values that emphasize moderation and ethical conduct.
Word Family of 婪
Compounds1
漤lan3to marinate in salt
Words Containing This Character3
贪婪tānlánavaricious貪婪
婪lánavaricious
贪婪无厌avaricious and insatiable (idiom); greedy and never satisfied貪婪無厭
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 漤 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 婪
Synonyms include 贪婪 (tān lán), which also means greedy or avaricious.
It's more appropriate in formal or literary contexts, as it carries a strong negative connotation.
You can remember it by linking 'lán' with a greedy landowner who always wants more.
