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滟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
滟yànbillowing, overflowing; wavyx, 13 strokes, radical 氵
滟yàntossing of billowsunknown, 13 strokes, radical 氵
yàn(yan4) T4
  1. 1billowing, overflowing; wavy
  2. 2tossing of billows
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March 24, 2026

滟(灩)yàn(yan4)

The character 滟 (yàn) refers to the appearance of water that is billowing or overflowing, often used to describe the wavy surface of a body of water. It conveys a sense of movement and fluidity, capturing the beauty of rippling waves. This term is commonly used in poetic or descriptive contexts, particularly in literature related to nature.

Strokes13Radical氵
Cultural Note

In Chinese poetry, water is often a symbol of life and change, and 滟 captures the dynamic beauty of nature. This character might be encountered in classical poetry where the imagery of flowing water plays a crucial role in conveying emotions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a shimmering lake on a windy day where the water is dancing and billowing under the sunlight. The character 滟 resembles waves rolling on the surface, with the '水' (water) radical emphasizing its connection to water. Think of 'yàn' as the sound of waves making gentle ripples.

Meanings of 滟

yàn(yan4)
1billowing, overflowing; wavy
2tossing of billows
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 滟

滟Simplified
灩Traditional
13Strokes
氵Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 滟

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Podcast: 滟

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AI Study Notes for 滟

Quick Contrast

波 (bō) - use 滟 (yàn) for a poetic description of water's surface, while 波 (bō) refers to waves themselves.

Usage Notes

滟 is often used in literary contexts, so it's less common in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; its specific meaning related to water movement sets it apart. It's typically used in a more formal or poetic register.

HSK Study Tips

Since 滟 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, learners should focus on related water-related characters like 水 (water) and 波 (wave). Understanding the context in which 滟 is used can enhance vocabulary related to nature and descriptive language.

Common Mistakes

Learners may incorrectly use 滟 in everyday contexts, thinking it applies to all types of water. For example, saying '我喜欢滟水' (I like flowing water) is incorrect; the correct term would be '我喜欢流动的水.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 滟

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Etymology of 滟

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Curves 艳 in the water 氵; 艳 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 滟

  1. 1The giveawayCurves 艳 in the water 氵; 艳 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 滟? 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 滟?

Decomposition of 滟

IDS Structure⿰氵艳
滟Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
艳yan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 滟?

How to say billowing, overflowing; wavy in Chinese

“billowing, overflowing; wavy” in Chinese is滟yàn

The character 滟 (yàn) refers to the appearance of water that is billowing or overflowing, often used to describe the wavy surface of a body of water. It conveys a sense of movement and fluidity, capturing the beauty of rippling waves. This term is commonly used in poetic or descriptive contexts, particularly in literature related to nature.

When to use 滟

滟 is often used in literary contexts, so it's less common in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; its specific meaning related to water movement sets it apart. It's typically used in a more formal or poetic register.

滟 or something close to it

波 (bō) - use 滟 (yàn) for a poetic description of water's surface, while 波 (bō) refers to waves themselves.

What learners get wrong

Learners may incorrectly use 滟 in everyday contexts, thinking it applies to all types of water. For example, saying '我喜欢滟水' (I like flowing water) is incorrect; the correct term would be '我喜欢流动的水.'

Write 滟

滟

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 滟

Words Containing This Character1
滟yàntossing of billows灩
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 滟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 滟

You might say, '湖面上滟滟波光,' meaning 'The surface of the lake sparkles with wavy light.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 滟?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.