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沅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
yuána river in western Hunanzg, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #29949, Very Hard
yuánYuan river in Guizhou and Hunanunknown, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #29949, Very Hard
yuán(Yuan2) T2
  1. 1a river in western Hunan
  2. 2Yuan river in Guizhou and Hunan
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
yuán(Yuan2)

The character 沅 (yuán) refers to a river, specifically the Yuan River, which flows through western Hunan and is significant in the region's geography. It is often used in place names and can denote both the physical river and metaphorical meanings related to water or flow.

Strokes7RadicalFrequency#29949DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The Yuan River is historically significant in Chinese culture, often associated with local legends and stories, highlighting the deep connection between rivers and the development of communities in ancient China.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wide river (象) flowing gently (宀) under a serene sky (干), representing the peaceful and vital nature of the Yuan River. The sound 'yuán' can be linked to 'yearn' as you yearn for the calmness of a flowing river.

Meanings of 沅

yuán(Yuan2)
1a river in western Hunan
2Yuan river in Guizhou and Hunan
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 沅

Simplified
7Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 沅

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AI Study Notes for 沅

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a wide river (象) flowing gently (宀) under a serene sky (干), representing the peaceful and vital nature of the Yuan River. The sound 'yuán' can be linked to 'yearn' as you yearn for the calmness of a flowing river.

Usage Notes

When using 沅 in conversation, ensure you are referring specifically to the geographical context, as it may not be commonly known outside of China. It is often used in formal contexts related to geography or natural features. Be cautious of tone, as a mispronunciation can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Though 沅 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding this character can enhance your geographic vocabulary related to rivers and regions in China. Focus on its usage in context with other geographical terms to build a broader understanding.

Cultural Note

The Yuan River is historically significant in Chinese culture, often associated with local legends and stories, highlighting the deep connection between rivers and the development of communities in ancient China.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 沅 with similar-sounding characters, like 原 (yuán), which means 'origin' or 'source.' Remember that 沅 specifically refers to the river, not a source or origin.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 沅

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Etymology of 沅

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

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 元 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

water

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 沅?

Decomposition of 沅

IDS Structure⿰氵元
Full Character
=
shui3
left
Yuan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 沅?

Write 沅

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

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Cultural Notes for 沅

🏮Cultural insight

The Yuan River is historically significant in Chinese culture, often associated with local legends and stories, highlighting the deep connection between rivers and the development of communities in ancient China.

Word Family of 沅

Words Containing This Character8
yuánYuan river in Guizhou and Hunan
沅江river in Hunan, flowing into Lake Dongting 洞庭湖
沅水Yuan River
沅陵Yuanling county in Huaihua 懷化|怀化[Huái​huà], Hunan
沅江市Yuanjiang county level city in Yiyang 益陽|益阳[Yì​yáng], Hunan
沅陵县Yuanling county in Huaihua 懷化|怀化[Huái​huà], Hunan沅陵縣
镇沅县Zhenyuan Yi, Hani and Lahu autonomous county in Pu'er 普洱[Pǔ​'ěr], Yunnan鎮沅縣
镇沅彝族哈尼族拉祜族自治县Zhenyuan Yi, Hani and Lahu autonomous county in Pu'er 普洱[Pǔ​'ěr], Yunnan鎮沅彞族哈尼族拉祜族自治縣
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 沅 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 沅

It refers to the Yuan River, significant in western Hunan.