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脘 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
脘wǎnabdominal cavityg, 11 strokes, radical ⺼
脘wǎninternal cavity of stomachunknown, 11 strokes, radical ⺼
wǎn(wan3) T3
  1. 1abdominal cavity
  2. 2internal cavity of stomach
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March 24, 2026

脘wǎn(wan3)

The character 脘 (wǎn) refers to the abdominal cavity or the internal cavity of the stomach. It is often used in medical contexts, particularly in traditional Chinese medicine, where understanding the internal organs and their functions is crucial. This term can also appear in discussions about digestion and health.

Strokes11Radical⺼
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the understanding of the abdominal cavity is essential for diagnosing health issues, as it relates to the balance of Qi and the functioning of internal organs. This reflects a holistic approach to health that is deeply ingrained in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large 'wan' (wǎn) bowl filled with food that represents the stomach. The character 脘 contains the radical '肉' (ròu), which means 'meat' or 'flesh,' symbolizing the contents of the stomach. Visualize this bowl being part of your body, where digestion occurs.

Meanings of 脘

wǎn(wan3)
1abdominal cavity
2internal cavity of stomach
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 脘

脘Simplified
11Strokes
⺼Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 脘

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Podcast: 脘

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AI Study Notes for 脘

Usage Notes

While 脘 is more commonly encountered in formal medical texts, it's important to use it appropriately within that context. A common mistake is confusing it with related terms like 胃 (wèi), which specifically means 'stomach.' Ensure you use the correct tone to avoid misunderstandings, as 'wǎn' has a different meaning if pronounced with a different tone.

HSK Study Tips

Although 脘 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your medical vocabulary at higher levels. Focus on related terms like 胃 (stomach) and 肚子 (belly) to develop a broader understanding of body-related vocabulary. Recognizing radicals can also help in memorizing characters that focus on anatomy.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 脘 with 胃 (wèi), leading to incorrect usage in contexts regarding stomach health. For example, saying '我有脘痛' (Wǒ yǒu wǎn tòng) instead of '我有胃痛' (Wǒ yǒu wèi tòng) to express stomach pain is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 脘

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Etymology of 脘

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

flesh

Semantic (meaning)⺼
+
Phonetic (sound)完
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 脘

  1. 1The meaning half⺼ carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half完 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayflesh
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 脘? 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 脘?

Decomposition of 脘

IDS Structure⿰⺼完
脘Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
完wan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 脘?

How to say abdominal cavity in Chinese

“abdominal cavity” in Chinese is脘wǎn

The character 脘 (wǎn) refers to the abdominal cavity or the internal cavity of the stomach. It is often used in medical contexts, particularly in traditional Chinese medicine, where understanding the internal organs and their functions is crucial. This term can also appear in discussions about digestion and health.

When to use 脘

While 脘 is more commonly encountered in formal medical texts, it's important to use it appropriately within that context. A common mistake is confusing it with related terms like 胃 (wèi), which specifically means 'stomach.' Ensure you use the correct tone to avoid misunderstandings, as 'wǎn' has a different meaning if pronounced with a different tone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 脘 with 胃 (wèi), leading to incorrect usage in contexts regarding stomach health. For example, saying '我有脘痛' (Wǒ yǒu wǎn tòng) instead of '我有胃痛' (Wǒ yǒu wèi tòng) to express stomach pain is incorrect.

Write 脘

脘

Practice writing 脘 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 脘

Words Containing This Character1
脘wǎninternal cavity of stomach
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 脘 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 脘

It refers to the abdominal cavity or the internal cavity of the stomach, often used in discussions about digestion.

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