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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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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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Simplified form of 灣. Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 彎 represents the sound.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half弯 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 湾? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 湾?
Decomposition of 湾
IDS Structure⿰氵弯
湾Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
弯wan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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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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
Complete the Sentence
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.
