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銮 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
銮luánbells hung on a horse; imperialg, 14 strokes, radical 金
luán(luan2) T2
  1. 1bells hung on a horse; imperial
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March 24, 2026

銮(鑾)luán(luan2)

The character 銮 (luán) refers to the ceremonial bells traditionally hung on horses, particularly in the context of imperial ceremonies. It can also denote something that is imperial or related to royalty, capturing a sense of grandeur and authority. This term is often associated with historical contexts and cultural symbols of power.

Strokes14Radical金
Cultural Note

In ancient China, the sound of bells was believed to ward off evil spirits and signify authority, often used during royal parades and ceremonies. 銮 embodies this cultural significance by representing both the physical bells and their connection to imperial power.

Memory Tip

Imagine a majestic horse adorned with shiny bells (銮) jingling as it moves, announcing the arrival of an emperor. The character's components suggest metal (金) and a sense of sound, linking the imagery of bells with its pronunciation 'luán'.

Meanings of 銮

luán(luan2)
1bells hung on a horse; imperial
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 銮

銮Simplified
鑾Traditional
14Strokes
金Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 銮

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Podcast: 銮

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AI Study Notes for 銮

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 銮 (luán) with similar-sounding characters. It is more commonly used in formal contexts, especially related to history or culture. Pair it with words like '帝王' (dìwáng - emperor) to reinforce its regal connotation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 銮 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, students should recognize it when studying historical texts or cultural references. Focus on understanding its roots and usage in imperial contexts to enhance comprehension of related vocabulary at higher levels.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 銮 (luán) in everyday contexts where more common terms would suffice. For example, saying '我喜欢这个銮' (wǒ xǐhuān zhège luán - I like this bell) is incorrect; instead, specify the type of bell with '铃' (líng).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 銮

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Etymology of 銮

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A bell 金 dangling from a tassel 亦

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 銮

  1. 1The giveawayA bell 金 dangling from a tassel 亦
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

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

Want the full history of 銮? 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 銮?

Decomposition of 銮

IDS Structure⿱亦金
銮Full Character
=
亦yi4
top
金Jin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 銮?

How to say bells hung on a horse; imperial in Chinese

“bells hung on a horse; imperial” in Chinese is銮luán

The character 銮 (luán) refers to the ceremonial bells traditionally hung on horses, particularly in the context of imperial ceremonies. It can also denote something that is imperial or related to royalty, capturing a sense of grandeur and authority. This term is often associated with historical contexts and cultural symbols of power.

When to use 銮

Be careful not to confuse 銮 (luán) with similar-sounding characters. It is more commonly used in formal contexts, especially related to history or culture. Pair it with words like '帝王' (dìwáng - emperor) to reinforce its regal connotation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 銮 (luán) in everyday contexts where more common terms would suffice. For example, saying '我喜欢这个銮' (wǒ xǐhuān zhège luán - I like this bell) is incorrect; instead, specify the type of bell with '铃' (líng).

Write 銮

銮

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

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Word Family of 銮

Words Containing This Character4
銮luánimperial鑾
金銮殿throne room金鑾殿
回銮return of the emperor回鑾
鹅銮鼻Cape Eluanpi or Eluanbi, southernmost point of Taiwan Island鵝鑾鼻
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 銮 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 銮

銮 symbolizes the grandeur of imperial ceremonies, connecting to the rich history of dynasties in China.

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