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褴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
褴lánragged, tattered, threadbarez, 15 strokes, radical 衤
褴lánragged garmentsunknown, 15 strokes, radical 衤
lán(lan2) T2
  1. 1ragged, tattered, threadbare
  2. 2ragged garments
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

褴(襤)lán(lan2)

The character 褴 (lán) refers to something that is ragged, tattered, or threadbare, often used to describe worn-out clothing. This term is commonly used in contexts discussing poverty or the condition of garments, suggesting a sense of neglect or age.

Strokes15Radical衤
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, clothing often symbolizes social status, and wearing 褴 garments can reflect economic hardship or poverty, making it a sensitive topic. Traditional tales may feature characters in ragged clothes to evoke sympathy or highlight resilience.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'land' where clothes are so old and tattered that they look like rags. The character 褴 has the radical 衣 (clothing) on the left, reminding you that it relates to garments, and 'lán' sounds like 'land,' where the rags might be found.

Meanings of 褴

lán(lan2)
1ragged, tattered, threadbare
2ragged garments
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 褴

褴Simplified
襤Traditional
15Strokes
衤Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 褴

JasonAmy

Podcast: 褴

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 褴

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 褴 with similar-looking characters. It is typically used in more informal contexts to describe clothing. Be cautious with the tone; it has a neutral tone, so ensure proper pronunciation to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 褴 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects well with other words at higher levels that describe clothing and states of condition. Focus on related terms like 破 (pò, broken) and 旧 (jiù, old) to build a broader vocabulary around clothing.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 褴 with 乱 (luàn), which means chaotic or messy, due to their similar appearance. Always remember that 褴 specifically refers to clothing and its condition.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 褴

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Etymology of 褴

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

Phonosemantic compound. 衤 represents the meaning and 监 represents the sound. Simplified form of 襤.

Memory Hint

cloth

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 褴

Phonosemantic compound. 衤 represents the meaning and 监 represents the sound. Simplified form of 襤.

  1. 1The meaning half衤 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half监 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaycloth
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 褴? 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 褴?

Decomposition of 褴

IDS Structure⿰衤监
褴Full Character
=
衤yi1
left
监jian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 褴?

How to say ragged, tattered, threadbare in Chinese

“ragged, tattered, threadbare” in Chinese is褴lán

The character 褴 (lán) refers to something that is ragged, tattered, or threadbare, often used to describe worn-out clothing. This term is commonly used in contexts discussing poverty or the condition of garments, suggesting a sense of neglect or age.

When to use 褴

Learners often confuse 褴 with similar-looking characters. It is typically used in more informal contexts to describe clothing. Be cautious with the tone; it has a neutral tone, so ensure proper pronunciation to avoid misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 褴 with 乱 (luàn), which means chaotic or messy, due to their similar appearance. Always remember that 褴 specifically refers to clothing and its condition.

Write 褴

褴

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 褴

褴 carries 2 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

Complete the Sentence

5位幸存者最终到达安全之地时已经衣衫____褛、饥肠辘辘、精疲力尽。

The five survivors eventually reached safety, ragged, half-starved and exhausted.

Example Sentences for 褴 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
5位幸存者最终到达安全之地时已经衣衫褴褛、饥肠辘辘、精疲力尽。

5 5 wèi xìng cún zhě zuì zhōng dào dá ān quán zhī dì shí yǐ jīng yī shān lán、 lǚ 、 jī cháng、 lù lù 、 jīng。

The five survivors eventually reached safety, ragged, half-starved and exhausted.
2
她蓬头乱发，衣衫褴褛，满是灰尘。

tā péng tóu luàn fā， ， yī shān lán， lǚ ， mǎn shì。

She had matted hair and torn dusty clothes.
3
我们在集市里，周围一大帮衣衫褴褛的小孩盯着我们看。

wǒ mén zài jí shì lǐ， ， zhōu wéi yī dà bāng yī shān lán lǚ de xiǎo hái dīng zháo wǒ mén。

We were in the bazaar with all the little urchins watching us.

Word Family of 褴

Words Containing This Character2
褴褛ragged襤褸
褴lánragged garments襤
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 褴褛 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 褴

It means ragged or tattered, often used to describe worn-out clothing.

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