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March 24, 2026
肙yuàn(yuan4)
The character 肙 (yuàn) refers to a small worm or a twisting motion. It can imply the action of surrounding something or being empty, often used in more abstract contexts. While it's not commonly used in everyday conversation, it can appear in literary or metaphorical expressions.
Strokes7Radical⺼Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine and literature, worms are sometimes considered in the context of health and balance, reflecting the idea of nature's cycles and the importance of small creatures in the ecosystem.
Memory Tip
Imagine a tiny worm (the small worm meaning) twisting around a leaf, which creates an image of something being surrounded. The character 肙 resembles a small 'wiggling' form, evoking the movement of the worm, and the 'yuàn' sound can remind you of 'you-want' to twist and surround.
Meanings of 肙
yuàn(yuan4)
primary
1a small worm; to twist; to surround; empty
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About 肙
肙Simplified
7Strokes
⺼Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 肙
Podcast: 肙
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AI Study Notes for 肙
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a tiny worm (the small worm meaning) twisting around a leaf, which creates an image of something being surrounded. The character 肙 resembles a small 'wiggling' form, evoking the movement of the worm, and the 'yuàn' sound can remind you of 'you-want' to twist and surround.
Usage Notes
This character is rarely used in modern language, so it may not be familiar to many native speakers, leading to confusion. It's more likely to be seen in literature or as part of idiomatic phrases. Be careful not to confuse it with more commonly used characters that have similar sounds.
HSK Study Tips
Since 肙 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, learners should focus on more common characters at this level. However, understanding its components (like 肉 for meat) can help in recognizing other characters with similar structures.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine and literature, worms are sometimes considered in the context of health and balance, reflecting the idea of nature's cycles and the importance of small creatures in the ecosystem.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget the pronunciation and confuse 肙 with similar-sounding characters. For example, mistakenly saying 'ruàn' instead of 'yuàn' can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 肙
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Cultural Notes for 肙
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese medicine and literature, worms are sometimes considered in the context of health and balance, reflecting the idea of nature's cycles and the importance of small creatures in the ecosystem.
Word Family of 肙
Words Containing This Character1
肙yuànto twist
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 肙 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 肙
No, 肙 is not commonly used in everyday language and is more likely to appear in literary contexts.
Characters like 肉 (ròu), which means meat, share the same radical and can help you remember some aspects of 肙.