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痪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
痪huànillnessx, 12 strokes, radical 疒, Medium
痪huànnumbness of the limbsx, 12 strokes, radical 疒, Medium
痪huànnumbness, paralysisx, 12 strokes, radical 疒, Medium
huàn(huan4)huan T4
  1. 1illness
  2. 2numbness of the limbs
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March 24, 2026

痪(瘓)huàn(huan4)

The character 痪 (huàn) refers to the condition of numbness or paralysis, often associated with medical ailments affecting the limbs. It can be used in both formal medical contexts and informal discussions about health. Understanding this term is important for discussing health issues in Chinese-speaking environments.

Strokes12Radical疒Frequency#2762DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of numbness and paralysis is often linked to imbalances in the body's energy (qi) and can be treated with acupuncture or herbal remedies. This highlights the holistic approach to health in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person trying to run (跑) but their legs are frozen in place, symbolizing paralysis. The character 痪 looks like a person (the left part) stuck in a painful state (the right part, depicting illness). Remembering 'huàn' can connect to the idea of being unable to move due to illness.

Meanings of 痪

huàn(huan4)
1illness
2numbness of the limbs
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 痪

痪Simplified
瘓Traditional
12Strokes
疒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 痪

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Podcast: 痪

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AI Study Notes for 痪

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 痪 with similar-sounding words that have different meanings, such as 完 (wán, to finish). This term is more formal and is often used in medical contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations unless necessary. Pay attention to the tone; the fourth tone can change the meaning significantly.

HSK Study Tips

While 痪 is not included in the HSK levels, understanding it can enhance your vocabulary related to health and medicine, which are essential topics at HSK Level 4 and above. Focus on memorizing characters related to illness as they often appear in medical discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 痪 with 瘫 (tān, to be paralyzed), which is a more colloquial term. For example, saying '我感觉到瘫' (I feel paralyzed) instead of 痪 can be misleading, as 瘫 implies a more severe state.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 痪

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Etymology of 痪

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

Phonosemantic compound. 疒 represents the meaning and 奂 represents the sound. Simplified form of 瘓.

Memory Hint

sickness

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

Origin

痪 = 疒 + 奂. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 痪

IDS Structure⿸疒奂
痪Full Character
=
疒ne4
enclosing
奂Huan4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 痪?

How to say illness in Chinese

“illness” in Chinese is痪huàn

The character 痪 (huàn) refers to the condition of numbness or paralysis, often associated with medical ailments affecting the limbs. It can be used in both formal medical contexts and informal discussions about health. Understanding this term is important for discussing health issues in Chinese-speaking environments.

When to use 痪

Common mistakes include confusing 痪 with similar-sounding words that have different meanings, such as 完 (wán, to finish). This term is more formal and is often used in medical contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations unless necessary. Pay attention to the tone; the fourth tone can change the meaning significantly.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 痪 with 瘫 (tān, to be paralyzed), which is a more colloquial term. For example, saying '我感觉到瘫' (I feel paralyzed) instead of 痪 can be misleading, as 瘫 implies a more severe state.

Write 痪

痪

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

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Grammar Patterns of 痪

痪 carries 3 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 3

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

一场暴风雨致使公路隐患重重且电力瘫____。

A storm has made roads treacherous and knocked out power.

Example Sentences for 痪 (3)

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1
一场暴风雨致使公路隐患重重且电力瘫痪。

yī cháng bào fēng yǔ zhì shǐ gōng lù yǐn huàn zhòng zhòng qiě diàn lì tān huàn。

A storm has made roads treacherous and knocked out power.
2
龙的毒素会引起瘫痪、肿胀和恶心。

lóng de dú sù huì yǐn qǐ tān huàn、 、 zhǒng zhàng hé è。

Poison from the weaver fish causes paralysis, swelling, and nausea.
3
蛇用其毒液使受害者失去知觉或瘫痪.

shé yòng qí dú yè shǐ shòu hài zhě shī qù zhī jué huò tān huàn.

The snake uses its venom to stun or paralyze its victims.

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Word Family of 痪

Words Containing This Character2
瘫痪tānhuànparalysis癱瘓
痪huànillness瘓
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 痪

What does 瘫痪 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 痪

In a medical context, 痪 refers to numbness or paralysis, particularly concerning the limbs.

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