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圓 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
圓yuáncircle; circular, round; completezg, 13 strokes, radical 囗
yuán(yuan2)yuan T2
  1. 1circle; circular, round; complete
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March 24, 2026

圓yuán(yuan2)

The character 圓 (yuán) primarily means 'circle' or 'round.' It is often used to describe shapes that are circular, as well as to express the idea of completeness or wholeness in various contexts, such as in relationships or events. This word is also associated with the concept of perfection in both physical form and abstract concepts.

Strokes13Radical囗
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of roundness (圓) is often associated with family reunions and festivals, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, where mooncakes symbolize unity and completeness. The round shape of the moon is central to these celebrations.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant round pancake (圓) that represents the perfect circle. The character's outer structure resembles a circle, which can help you remember its meaning of roundness and completeness. Think of the pancake being served at a family gathering, symbolizing unity and wholeness.

Meanings of 圓

yuán(yuan2)
1circle; circular, round; complete
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 圓 means.

About 圓

圓Simplified
13Strokes
囗Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 圓

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Podcast: 圓

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AI Study Notes for 圓

Quick Contrast

圆 (yuán) vs 环 (huán) — use 圆 for shapes that are circular or whole, while 环 refers to a ring or something that encircles.

Usage Notes

When using 圓, be mindful of its contexts; it can refer to physical shapes as well as metaphorical completeness. A common mistake is to confuse it with the character 圆 with a different tone, which can change the meaning. Use 圓 in both formal and informal situations, but ensure the context is appropriate.

HSK Study Tips

Although 圓 is not part of the official HSK lists, it connects with other HSK vocabulary related to shapes and completeness. Students should focus on recognizing it in context and practicing its pronunciation to avoid tone errors, particularly distinguishing it from similar-sounding words.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 圓 with 圆, mistakenly using the simplified version in contexts that require traditional characters. Remember to check the context in which you are writing or speaking.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 圓

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Etymology of 圓

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

Simplified form of 圓. Phonosemantic compound. 囗 represents the meaning and 員 represents the sound. Originally written as 員.

Memory hint

enclosure

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

Origin

圓 = 囗 + 員. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 圓

IDS Structure⿴囗員
圓Full character
=
囗wei2
enclosing
員yuan2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 圓?

How to say circle; circular, round; complete in Chinese

“circle; circular, round; complete” in Chinese is圓yuán

The character 圓 (yuán) primarily means 'circle' or 'round.' It is often used to describe shapes that are circular, as well as to express the idea of completeness or wholeness in various contexts, such as in relationships or events. This word is also associated with the concept of perfection in both physical form and abstract concepts.

When to use 圓

When using 圓, be mindful of its contexts; it can refer to physical shapes as well as metaphorical completeness. A common mistake is to confuse it with the character 圆 with a different tone, which can change the meaning. Use 圓 in both formal and informal situations, but ensure the context is appropriate.

圓 or something close to it

圆 (yuán) vs 环 (huán) — use 圆 for shapes that are circular or whole, while 环 refers to a ring or something that encircles.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 圓 with 圆, mistakenly using the simplified version in contexts that require traditional characters. Remember to check the context in which you are writing or speaking.

Write 圓

圓

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

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Word Family of 圓

Words containing this character20
圆yuáncircle圓
圆满yuánmǎnsatisfactory圓滿
圆形yuánxínground圓形
方圆fāngyuánperimeter方圓
圆圈circle圓圈
日圆Japanese yen (unit of currency)日圓
团圆tuányuánto have a reunion團圓
圆滑slick and sly圓滑
汤圆tāngyuánboiled balls of glutinous rice flour, eaten during the Lantern Festival湯圓
圆明园Yuanmingyuan, the Old Summer Palace, destroyed by the British and French army in 1860圓明園
圆盘disk圓盤
圆桌round table圓桌
椭圆tuǒyuánoval橢圓
圆润suave圓潤
椭圆形oval橢圓形
破镜重圆a shattered mirror put back together (idiom)破鏡重圓
圆珠笔yuánzhūbǐballpoint pen圓珠筆
圆点dot圓點
圆柱column圓柱
圆顶dome圓頂
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 圓

What does 圆 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 圓

The correct pronunciation is 'yuán,' with a rising tone.

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