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闌 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
闌lánscreen door, railing, fencex, 17 strokes, radical 門
lán(lan2)lan T2
  1. 1screen door, railing, fence
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March 24, 2026

闌lán(lan2)

闌 refers to a type of barrier or enclosure, often seen in the context of architecture as a screen door, railing, or fence. It is commonly used in residential settings where safety or separation is needed, such as around balconies or gardens.

Strokes17Radical門
Cultural note

In Chinese architecture, 闌 is often associated with traditional design elements that emphasize safety and aesthetic beauty, especially in courtyards and gardens, reflecting the importance of harmony with nature.

Memory tip

Think of a 'lan' (pronounced like 'lan') that protects you from falling off a balcony. The character 闌 has the radical 門 (door) which signifies its association with barriers or enclosures, while the 'lan' sound can remind you of a protective railing.

Meanings of 闌

lán(lan2)
1screen door, railing, fence
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 闌

闌Simplified
17Strokes
門Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 闌

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Podcast: 闌

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AI Study Notes for 闌

Usage Notes

This character is typically used in written Chinese and may not be common in everyday conversation. Be cautious with its tone; 闌 (lán) has a flat tone that should not be confused with other similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 闌干 (lán gān), meaning 'railing'.

HSK Study Tips

闌 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but it shares themes with words related to structure and safety found in HSK Level 4 and above. Students should focus on the character's components and how they relate to physical structures to help memorize it.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 闌 with similar-sounding characters like 兰 (lán), which means orchid, leading to incorrect usage. It's important to remember that 闌 specifically refers to physical barriers or enclosures.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 闌

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Etymology of 闌

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

Phonosemantic compound. 门 represents the meaning and 柬 represents the sound. Simplified form of 闌.

Memory hint

door

Semantic (meaning)門
+
Phonetic (sound)柬
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

闌 = 門 + 柬. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 闌

IDS Structure⿵門柬
闌Full character
=
門men2
enclosing
柬Jian3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 闌?

How to say screen door, railing, fence in Chinese

“screen door, railing, fence” in Chinese is闌lán

闌 refers to a type of barrier or enclosure, often seen in the context of architecture as a screen door, railing, or fence. It is commonly used in residential settings where safety or separation is needed, such as around balconies or gardens.

When to use 闌

This character is typically used in written Chinese and may not be common in everyday conversation. Be cautious with its tone; 闌 (lán) has a flat tone that should not be confused with other similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 闌干 (lán gān), meaning 'railing'.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 闌 with similar-sounding characters like 兰 (lán), which means orchid, leading to incorrect usage. It's important to remember that 闌 specifically refers to physical barriers or enclosures.

Write 闌

闌

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

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Word Family of 闌

Words containing this character8
阑尾appendix闌尾
阑尾炎appendicitis (medicine)闌尾炎
阑lánrailing闌
阑珊waning闌珊
夜阑late at night夜闌
夜阑人静late at night夜闌人靜
阑干uneven闌干
更阑deep night更闌
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 闌

What does 阑尾 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 闌

闌 is used mainly in architectural contexts, such as describing railings, fences, and screen doors.

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