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March 24, 2026
兰(蘭)lán(Lan2)
The character 兰 (lán) primarily means 'orchid,' which is associated with elegance and grace in Chinese culture. It can also be a surname and is used as an abbreviation for Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province. The character conveys a sense of beauty and refinement, often linked to traditional aesthetics.
Strokes5Radical丷Frequency#1852DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, orchids symbolize nobility and refinement, often celebrated in poetry and art. The character 兰 is also associated with the traditional values of elegance and grace, making it a popular choice in names and literature.
Memory Tip
Imagine a graceful dancer (兰) surrounded by beautiful orchids. The character has a 'woman' radical on the left (女), symbolizing feminine beauty, and the right side resembles a plant, reinforcing the connection to nature and elegance.
Meanings of 兰
lán(Lan2)
1orchid; elegant, graceful
2lily magnolia (木蘭|木兰)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 兰
兰Simplified
蘭Traditional
5Strokes
丷Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateCEFRC1
Podcast: 兰
Podcast: 兰
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AI Study Notes for 兰
Usage Notes
兰 is often used in literary contexts or when discussing flowers and beauty. Be cautious with the pronunciation; it must be pronounced with the second tone (lán) to avoid confusion with other characters. Common collocations include 兰花 (lánhuā), meaning 'orchid flower.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 兰 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it connects with other HSK vocabulary related to plants and beauty. Learners should focus on its pronunciation and usage in cultural contexts, as well as its role in compound words.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 兰 as 'lǎn' with a falling tone, which is incorrect. The correct form is 'lán.' Additionally, some might confuse it with similar characters like 琳 (lín), which has a different meaning and is pronounced differently.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 兰
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Simplified form of 蘭. Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 三 represents the sound.
1The giveawayAn orchid in bloom
2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 兰? 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 兰?
Decomposition of 兰
IDS Structure⿱丷三
兰Full Character
=
丷ha5
top
三San1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 兰?
How to say surname Lan in Chinese
“surname Lan” in Chinese is兰lán
The character 兰 (lán) primarily means 'orchid,' which is associated with elegance and grace in Chinese culture. It can also be a surname and is used as an abbreviation for Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province. The character conveys a sense of beauty and refinement, often linked to traditional aesthetics.
When to use 兰
兰 is often used in literary contexts or when discussing flowers and beauty. Be cautious with the pronunciation; it must be pronounced with the second tone (lán) to avoid confusion with other characters. Common collocations include 兰花 (lánhuā), meaning 'orchid flower.'
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 兰 as 'lǎn' with a falling tone, which is incorrect. The correct form is 'lán.' Additionally, some might confuse it with similar characters like 琳 (lín), which has a different meaning and is pronounced differently.
Write 兰
兰
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Practice writing 兰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 兰
兰 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 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
Complete the Sentence
他对于法国、德国和荷____的文学了如指掌。
He was well acquainted with the literature of France, Germany and Holland.
Example Sentences for 兰 (10)
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1
他对于法国、德国和荷兰的文学了如指掌。
tā duì yú fǎ guó、 、 dé guó hé hé lán de wén xué le rú zhǐ。
He was well acquainted with the literature of France, Germany and Holland.
2
那个节目将包括英格兰与爱尔兰比赛的实况报道。
nà gè jié mù jiāng bāo kuò yīng gé lán yǔ ài ěr lán bǐ sài de shí kuàng bào dào。
That programme will include live commentary on the England-Ireland game.
3
兰德尔这个时候应该正在拿周日的报纸。
lán dé ěr zhè gè shí hòu yīng gāi zhèng zài ná zhōu rì de bào zhǐ。
Randall would just now be getting the Sunday paper.
