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March 24, 2026
蔓mán(man2)
The character 蔓 (mán) primarily refers to a creeping plant or vine, such as those that spread out along the ground or climb upwards. It can also denote a turnip, particularly in agricultural contexts. This word is often used in discussions about gardening, botany, and farming.
Strokes14Radical艹Frequency#15209DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese agriculture, turnips and similar root vegetables play an important role in traditional diets, especially in northern regions. The concept of creeping plants is also significant in Chinese gardening aesthetics, where harmony with nature is emphasized.
Memory Tip
Imagine a vine (蔓) that 'manages' to spread everywhere it grows. The character looks like the vine itself, spreading out with its leafy components, and the pronunciation 'mán' sounds like 'man', who is always trying to stretch his reach.
Meanings of 蔓
mán(man2)
primary
1turnip
2Brassica campestris
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 蔓
蔓Simplified
14Strokes
艹Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#15209Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蔓
Podcast: 蔓
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AI Study Notes for 蔓
Quick Contrast
蔓 (mán) vs 爬 (pá) — use 蔓 when referring specifically to creeping plants or vines, while 爬 indicates the action of climbing more generally.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 蔓 with similar-sounding characters like 曼 (màn), which means 'elegant' or 'graceful'. This word is generally used in a more formal context, especially in botany and agriculture. Common collocations include 蔓生 (to spread), 蔓藤 (creeping vine).
HSK Study Tips
Though 蔓 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, understanding this word can enhance your comprehension of plant-related terms in Chinese. It connects with other words related to nature and agriculture, so pay attention to its usage in those contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蔓 with other plant-related terms, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying 蔓生 (to spread) when referring to a plant that does not creep, which should instead use a more appropriate term like 生长 (to grow).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蔓
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How Well Do You Know 蔓?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 蔓 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 蔓 (mán) primarily refers to a creeping plant or vine, such as those that spread out along the ground or climb upwards. It can also denote a turnip, particularly in agricultural contexts. This word is often used in discussions about gardening, botany, and farming.
When to use 蔓
Be careful not to confuse 蔓 with similar-sounding characters like 曼 (màn), which means 'elegant' or 'graceful'. This word is generally used in a more formal context, especially in botany and agriculture. Common collocations include 蔓生 (to spread), 蔓藤 (creeping vine).
蔓 or something close to it
蔓 (mán) vs 爬 (pá) — use 蔓 when referring specifically to creeping plants or vines, while 爬 indicates the action of climbing more generally.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 蔓 with other plant-related terms, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying 蔓生 (to spread) when referring to a plant that does not creep, which should instead use a more appropriate term like 生长 (to grow).
Write 蔓
蔓
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Grammar Patterns of 蔓
蔓 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
传染病正在遭受洪灾的很多灾民中____延。
Infectious diseases are spreading among many of the flood victims.
