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March 24, 2026
紊wěn(wen3)
The character 紊 (wěn) refers to a state of disorder or confusion, often used to describe situations that are tangled or chaotic. It can apply to both physical arrangements, like disorganized items, and abstract concepts, such as confused thoughts or situations. This term is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese when discussing disarray or lack of order.
Strokes10Radical糸Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of order and harmony is highly valued, making the idea of disorder, as indicated by 紊 (wěn), particularly significant in discussions about family and societal structure. Events or situations that lead to chaos are often viewed negatively.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'tangled web' of threads (the radical 糸, which relates to textiles) that are all mixed up and chaotic. The pronunciation 'wěn' sounds like 'when,' which you can associate with a moment when things go wrong or become disordered.
Meanings of 紊
wěn(wen3)
1involved
2tangled
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 紊
紊Simplified
10Strokes
糸Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 紊
Podcast: 紊
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AI Study Notes for 紊
Quick Contrast
混 (hùn) — use 紊 for describing physical or abstract disorder, while 混 emphasizes a blend or mixture without distinct separation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'tangled web' of threads (the radical 糸, which relates to textiles) that are all mixed up and chaotic. The pronunciation 'wěn' sounds like 'when,' which you can associate with a moment when things go wrong or become disordered.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 紊 (wěn) with similar-sounding characters that convey different meanings. It is more commonly used in written form and may not be used as frequently in casual conversation. Pay attention to its tone; the third tone can be subtle in fast speech.
HSK Study Tips
Although 紊 (wěn) is not part of the standardized HSK levels, it can be beneficial to recognize it alongside other characters related to disorder, such as 混 (hùn, to mix). Focus on its use in context, especially in academic or formal discussions about organization or clarity.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of order and harmony is highly valued, making the idea of disorder, as indicated by 紊 (wěn), particularly significant in discussions about family and societal structure. Events or situations that lead to chaos are often viewed negatively.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 紊 (wěn) with 乱 (luàn), both of which suggest disorder but have different nuances. For example, saying '这件事很乱' (zhè jiàn shì hěn luàn) is more common in casual speech than using 紊.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 紊
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Grammar Patterns of 紊
紊 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 3
Complete the Sentence
经过数年的节食, 卡罗尔的新陈代谢完全____乱了.
After years of dieting, Carol's metabolism was completely out of whack.
Example Sentences for 紊 (3)
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1
经过数年的节食, 卡罗尔的新陈代谢完全紊乱了.
jīng guò shù nián de jié shí, , kǎ luó ěr de xīn chén dài xiè wán quán wěn luàn.
After years of dieting, Carol's metabolism was completely out of whack.
Turbulence or gusts produce velocity fluctuations.
3
自然风的特性是紊乱或阵息的.
zì rán fēng de tè xìng shì wěn luàn huò zhèn xī de.
The natural wind is turbulent or gusty.
Cultural Notes for 紊
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of order and harmony is highly valued, making the idea of disorder, as indicated by 紊 (wěn), particularly significant in discussions about family and societal structure. Events or situations that lead to chaos are often viewed negatively.
Word Family of 紊
Words Containing This Character4
紊乱wěnluàndisorder紊亂
有条不紊yǒutiáobùwěnregular and thorough (idiom); methodically arranged有條不紊
紊wěninvolved
紊流turbulent flow
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 紊乱 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 紊
You can say '他的想法很紊' (tā de xiǎngfǎ hěn wěn) meaning 'His thoughts are very confused.'
It's more common in written Chinese and formal contexts, rather than in casual spoken language.
Synonyms include 乱 (luàn, chaotic) and 混乱 (hùn luàn, disorderly).
