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March 24, 2026
湾(灣)wān(wan1)
The character 湾 (wān) primarily refers to a bay or gulf, which is a coastal body of water partially enclosed by land. It can also refer to the act of anchoring or mooring a boat. This term is commonly used in geographical contexts and can describe both natural and man-made inlets.
Strokes12Radical氵Frequency#5123DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In China, many major cities are located near bays, such as Shanghai and Guangzhou, highlighting the importance of maritime trade and transport in Chinese history. The concept of bays is also reflected in traditional Chinese poetry, often symbolizing beauty and tranquility.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'W' shaped bay, where the water curves around like the letter itself. The character 湾 has a water radical (水) on the left, representing its connection to water, and the right part sounds like 'wan' which rhymes with 'pan' where you might 'cast' or 'moor' a boat.
Meanings of 湾
wān(wan1)
1bay
2gulf
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 湾 means.
About 湾
湾Simplified
灣Traditional
12Strokes
氵Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#5123Frequency Rank
Podcast: 湾
Podcast: 湾
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AI Study Notes for 湾
Quick Contrast
海湾 (hǎiwān) refers specifically to a coastal bay that is part of the sea, whereas 湾 (wān) can refer to any bay or inlet, not limited to coastal areas.
Usage Notes
Typically used in both formal and informal contexts, 湾 can be confused with related terms like 海 (hǎi, sea) or 岸 (àn, shore). Pay attention to the tones, as 'wān' is often mispronounced as 'wán' (a different word with distinct meaning). Common phrases include 湾区 (wānqū, bay area) and 锚泊于湾 (máobó yú wān, moored in the bay).
HSK Study Tips
While 湾 is not specifically listed in the HSK, it can be useful for learners at HSK 3 and above when discussing geography or travel. Students should focus on similar terms related to water and geography, such as 河 (hé, river) and 湖 (hú, lake), to build a contextual understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 湾 with other similar-sounding characters such as 玩 (wán, to play) due to the tonal difference. It's important to focus on the context—湾 always relates to water, while 玩 relates to leisure activities.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 湾
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How Well Do You Know 湾?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 湾 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
湾 = 氵 + 弯. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 湾
IDS Structure⿰氵弯
湾Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
弯wan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 湾?
How to say bay in Chinese
“bay” in Chinese is湾wān
The character 湾 (wān) primarily refers to a bay or gulf, which is a coastal body of water partially enclosed by land. It can also refer to the act of anchoring or mooring a boat. This term is commonly used in geographical contexts and can describe both natural and man-made inlets.
When to use 湾
Typically used in both formal and informal contexts, 湾 can be confused with related terms like 海 (hǎi, sea) or 岸 (àn, shore). Pay attention to the tones, as 'wān' is often mispronounced as 'wán' (a different word with distinct meaning). Common phrases include 湾区 (wānqū, bay area) and 锚泊于湾 (máobó yú wān, moored in the bay).
湾 or something close to it
海湾 (hǎiwān) refers specifically to a coastal bay that is part of the sea, whereas 湾 (wān) can refer to any bay or inlet, not limited to coastal areas.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 湾 with other similar-sounding characters such as 玩 (wán, to play) due to the tonal difference. It's important to focus on the context—湾 always relates to water, while 玩 relates to leisure activities.
Write 湾
湾
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Practice writing 湾 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 湾
湾 carries 5 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
从这座房子可以俯瞰到特拉华____壮丽的景致。
The house commanded some splendid views of Delaware Bay.
