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閏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
閏rùnintercalary; extra, surpluszg, 12 strokes, radical 門
rùn(run4) T4
  1. 1intercalary; extra, surplus
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

閏rùn(run4)

The character 閏 (rùn) refers to an intercalary or extra month or day added to a calendar to align it with the solar year. It is commonly used in the context of the lunar calendar, where an extra month is inserted every few years to ensure that the lunar months stay in sync with the seasons.

Strokes12Radical門
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the lunar calendar plays a significant role in agricultural practices and festivals. The insertion of an extra month (閏月) is essential for ensuring that important events like the Spring Festival align with the correct seasons.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'run' in a race where an extra lap is added to make it fair. The character 閏 consists of the radical 門 (door), symbolizing the entry into a new time period, and the phonetic component 潤, which relates to surplus or addition. Picture a door opening to let in an extra month!

Meanings of 閏

rùn(run4)
1intercalary; extra, surplus
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 閏

閏Simplified
12Strokes
門Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 閏

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Podcast: 閏

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 閏

Usage Notes

While 閏 is specific to calendrical contexts, learners often confuse it with similar characters like 余 (yú), which means surplus in a more general sense. It is typically used in formal contexts, especially in discussions about the lunar calendar. Be mindful of the tone: 'rùn' has a falling tone, which is crucial for correct pronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

Though not included in the HSK levels, understanding 閏 can enhance your comprehension of time-related vocabulary in Mandarin. Focus on how it relates to other time-related terms, especially those in the context of calendars and seasons, as this can enrich your conversational skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly write 閏 as 余 (yú), which means surplus but is not specific to calendar use. Remember, 閏 specifically refers to intercalary months or days, which is crucial in context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 閏

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Etymology of 閏

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

Phonosemantic compound. 王 represents the meaning and 门 represents the sound. Simplified form of 閏.

Memory Hint

royal decree

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 閏

Phonosemantic compound. 王 represents the meaning and 门 represents the sound. Simplified form of 閏.

  1. 1The meaning half王 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half門 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayroyal decree
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 閏? 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 閏?

Decomposition of 閏

IDS Structure⿵門王
閏Full Character
=
門men2
enclosing
王Wang2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 閏?

How to say intercalary; extra, surplus in Chinese

“intercalary; extra, surplus” in Chinese is閏rùn

The character 閏 (rùn) refers to an intercalary or extra month or day added to a calendar to align it with the solar year. It is commonly used in the context of the lunar calendar, where an extra month is inserted every few years to ensure that the lunar months stay in sync with the seasons.

When to use 閏

While 閏 is specific to calendrical contexts, learners often confuse it with similar characters like 余 (yú), which means surplus in a more general sense. It is typically used in formal contexts, especially in discussions about the lunar calendar. Be mindful of the tone: 'rùn' has a falling tone, which is crucial for correct pronunciation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly write 閏 as 余 (yú), which means surplus but is not specific to calendar use. Remember, 閏 specifically refers to intercalary months or days, which is crucial in context.

Write 閏

閏

Practice writing 閏 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 閏

Words Containing This Character3
闰rùnintercalary閏
闰年leap year閏年
闰月leap month閏月
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 闰 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 閏

In daily life, 閏 is mainly relevant when discussing dates in the lunar calendar, especially during leap years.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 閏?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.