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冤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
冤
yuān
injustice
HSK 7, n, 10 strokes, radical 冖, rank #18695, Very Hard
冤
yuān
grievance
HSK 7, n, 10 strokes, radical 冖, rank #18695, Very Hard
冤
yuān
wrong
HSK 7, n, 10 strokes, radical 冖, rank #18695, Very Hard
冤
yuān
old variant of 冤[yuān]
HSK 7, n, 10 strokes, radical 冖, rank #18695, Very Hard
yuān(yuan1)yuan T1
1injustice
2grievance
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March 24, 2026
冤yuān(yuan1)
The character 冤 (yuān) refers to feelings of injustice or grievance. It is often used to describe situations where someone has been wronged or treated unfairly, and it carries a connotation of deep emotional distress related to perceived injustice.
Strokes10Radical冖Frequency#18695DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 冤 is significant in discussions of justice, especially in literature and historical narratives, where characters often seek to rectify wrongs done to them or their families, illustrating the importance of moral rectitude.
Memory tip
Imagine a person holding a grudge (冤) while looking at a scale tipped unfairly against them. The left side, which represents justice, is weighed down by a heavy stone, symbolizing the injustice they feel. The pronunciation 'yuān' sounds like 'yawn,' which you might do when you hear about someone's boring complaint about being wronged.
Meanings of 冤
yuān(yuan1)
1injustice
2grievance
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 冤
冤Simplified
10Strokes
冖Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#18695Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 冤
Podcast: 冤
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AI study notes for 冤
Quick Contrast
冤 (yuān) vs 委屈 (wěiqū) — choose 冤 for a stronger sense of injustice, while 委屈 implies a sense of grievance or feeling wronged that may not be as severe.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 冤 with other characters related to wrongness or error, such as 错 (cuò). It is primarily used in contexts of emotional or moral injustice rather than legal terminology. Be careful with tones, as a mispronunciation could change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
While 冤 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to themes of justice and fairness present in other HSK words. Students should focus on using it in contexts discussing morality and ethics, which may help reinforce their understanding of related vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners may incorrectly use 冤 in legal contexts, thinking it means 'wrong' in a general sense. For example, saying '我有一个冤' (Wǒ yǒu yīgè yuān) to mean 'I have a mistake' is incorrect; it should refer specifically to a grievance or injustice.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 冤
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The character 冤 (yuān) refers to feelings of injustice or grievance. It is often used to describe situations where someone has been wronged or treated unfairly, and it carries a connotation of deep emotional distress related to perceived injustice.
When to use 冤
Learners often confuse 冤 with other characters related to wrongness or error, such as 错 (cuò). It is primarily used in contexts of emotional or moral injustice rather than legal terminology. Be careful with tones, as a mispronunciation could change the meaning entirely.
冤 or something close to it
冤 (yuān) vs 委屈 (wěiqū) — choose 冤 for a stronger sense of injustice, while 委屈 implies a sense of grievance or feeling wronged that may not be as severe.
What learners get wrong
Learners may incorrectly use 冤 in legal contexts, thinking it means 'wrong' in a general sense. For example, saying '我有一个冤' (Wǒ yǒu yīgè yuān) to mean 'I have a mistake' is incorrect; it should refer specifically to a grievance or injustice.
Write 冤
冤
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Grammar patterns of 冤
冤 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
有些人被____判长期徒刑。
Some have been sentenced to long prison terms after unfair trials.
Example sentences for 冤 (8)
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1
有些人被冤判长期徒刑。
yǒuxiē rén bèi yuān pàn chángqī tú xíng。
Some have been sentenced to long prison terms after unfair trials.
2
他受这么多苦，太冤枉了。
tā shòu zhème duō kǔ， tài yuānwang le。
It was unfair that he should suffer so much.
3
10年之后，德雷福斯的冤情得以昭雪。
10 nián zhīhòu， dé léi fú Sī de yuān qíng déyǐ zhāo xuě。
Mr Brownson, I assure you King's an old enemy of mine.
5
过去数不清的冤假错案和枉法行为给人们带来了创伤。
guòqù shù bù qīng de yuānjiǎcuòàn hé wǎng fǎ xíngwéi gěi rénmen dàilái le chuāngshāng。
The past has been scarred by countless mistrials and perversions of justice.
6
白跑一趟,真冤!
bái pǎo yī tàng, zhēn yuān!
What bad luck , nothing came of my trip.
7
苏小姐骂方鸿 渐 无耻,实在是冤枉.
sū xiǎojiě mà fāng hóng jiān wúchǐ, shízài shì yuānwang.
Miss Su's condemnation of Fang Hung - chien for being shameless was actually unjust.
8
有冤伸冤, 有苦诉苦.
yǒu yuān shēn yuān, yǒu kǔ sùkǔ.
Those who had been wronged stood up and demanded that their wrongs be redressed , and those who had been made to suffer cruelly spoke out against those responsible for their suffering.
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Word Family of 冤
Words containing this character20
冤枉yuānwangto accuse wrongly
冤yuāninjustice
冤家yuānjiaenemy
冤案yuān’ànmiscarriage of justice
冤魂yuānhúnghost of one who died unjustly
冤屈yuānqūinjustice
冤大头yuāndàtóuspendthrift and foolish冤大頭
含冤hányuānwronged
喊冤hǎnyuānto cry out a grievance
蒙冤méngyuānto be wronged
冤家对头yuānjiāduìtóuarch-enemy冤家對頭
冤情yuānqíngfacts of an injustice
不白之冤bùbáizhīyuānunrighted wrong
冤狱yuānyùframe-up冤獄
冤假错案yuānjiǎcuòànunjust, fake and false charges (in a legal case)冤假錯案
申冤shēnyuānto appeal for justice
冤枉路yuānwanglùpointless trip
冤死yuānsǐto die of persecution
伸冤shēnyuānto right wrongs
冤孽yuānnièsin (in Buddhism)
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 冤
What does 冤枉 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 冤
You can say, '他觉得自己受了冤屈' (Tā juédé zìjǐ shòule yuānqū), meaning 'He feels he has been wronged.'
It is generally used in both contexts, but is more common in discussions about moral issues or grievances.
Synonyms include 不公 (bùgōng, unfairness) and 冤屈 (yuānqū, grievance).
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