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欒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
luánvarnish tree; surnamezg, 23 strokes, radical 木, Very Hard
luán(luan2) T2
  1. 1varnish tree; surname
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
luán(luan2)

The character 欒 (luán) refers to the varnish tree, which is valued for its wood and resin. It is also a Chinese surname, though less common than others. In contexts where it is used as a tree name, it may relate to discussions about nature, woodwork, or traditional Chinese medicine.

Strokes23RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, different trees and their parts hold significance for healing and health. The varnish tree, in particular, has been used for its medicinal properties, linking this character to historical practices in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a lush tree (the varnish tree) with shiny leaves reflecting sunlight. The character 欒 has the radical 欠 (qiàn) meaning 'to owe' on the left, suggesting something valuable, while the right side looks like a tree growing upwards, reminding you of its connection to nature and wood.

Meanings of 欒

luán(luan2)
1varnish tree; surname
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 欒

Simplified
23Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 欒

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 欒

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a lush tree (the varnish tree) with shiny leaves reflecting sunlight. The character 欒 has the radical 欠 (qiàn) meaning 'to owe' on the left, suggesting something valuable, while the right side looks like a tree growing upwards, reminding you of its connection to nature and wood.

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation, making it more of a literary or specialized term. When discussing trees or wood, ensure you use the correct context to avoid confusion with more common words. Be mindful of the tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 欒 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, it can be related to other words about nature or trees. Focus on recognizing the character's components and practicing its pronunciation to enhance your overall vocabulary related to flora.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, different trees and their parts hold significance for healing and health. The varnish tree, in particular, has been used for its medicinal properties, linking this character to historical practices in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 欒 with similar characters due to its uncommon usage. For example, using it interchangeably with 常 (cháng) which means 'often' is incorrect; remember that 欒 relates specifically to the varnish tree.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 欒

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Etymology of 欒

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

tree

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 欒?

Decomposition of 欒

IDS Structure⿱䜌木
Full Character
=
luan2
top
Mu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 欒?

Write 欒

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 欒

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese medicine, different trees and their parts hold significance for healing and health. The varnish tree, in particular, has been used for its medicinal properties, linking this character to historical practices in Chinese culture.

Word Family of 欒

Words Containing This Character5
luánsurname Luan
栾川Luanchuan county in Luoyang 洛陽|洛阳, Henan欒川
栾城Luancheng county in Shijiazhuang 石家莊|石家庄[Shí​jiā​zhuāng], Hebei欒城
栾川县Luanchuan county in Luoyang 洛陽|洛阳, Henan欒川縣
栾城县Luancheng county in Shijiazhuang 石家莊|石家庄[Shí​jiā​zhuāng], Hebei欒城縣
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 栾 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 欒

It means varnish tree and is also a surname.