HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Hard
挽
wǎn
to draw (a cart or a bow)
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Hard
挽
wǎn
to roll up
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Hard
挽
wǎn
to coil
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Hard
挽
wǎn
to carry on the arm
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Hard
挽
wǎn
to lament the dead
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Hard
挽
wǎn
(fig.) to pull against
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Hard
挽
wǎn
to recover
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Hard
挽
wǎn
to draw (a cart)
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Hard
挽
wǎn
to pull, to lead; to pull back, to draw a bow
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Hard
wǎn(wan3) T3
1to pull
2to draw (a cart or a bow)
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March 24, 2026
挽wǎn(wan3)
The character 挽 (wǎn) primarily means 'to pull' or 'to draw,' commonly used in contexts like drawing a cart or bow. It can also imply rolling up or coiling something, and has a more figurative usage in expressing mourning or lamenting the dead, reflecting a rich emotional layer in its application.
Strokes10Radical扌Frequency#15675DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of lamenting the dead is significant, often tied to traditional mourning practices during festivals like Qingming Festival, where people honor ancestors. The character 挽 encapsulates both the physical and emotional aspects of this cultural practice.
Memory Tip
Imagine a strong person 'pulling' a heavy cart (representing 挽) while lamenting for a lost loved one, symbolizing both the physical action and the emotional weight. The character's left part (扌) relates to 'hand' and the right part (婉) can evoke a graceful woman, reminding you of the strength and grace needed to pull forward through grief.
Meanings of 挽
wǎn(wan3)
1to pull
2to draw (a cart or a bow)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 挽
挽Simplified
10Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#15675Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 挽
Podcast: 挽
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AI Study Notes for 挽
Quick Contrast
拉 (lā, to pull) — use 挽 (wǎn) when emphasizing a more nuanced or emotional context, such as mourning.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a strong person 'pulling' a heavy cart (representing 挽) while lamenting for a lost loved one, symbolizing both the physical action and the emotional weight. The character's left part (扌) relates to 'hand' and the right part (婉) can evoke a graceful woman, reminding you of the strength and grace needed to pull forward through grief.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing wǎn, as incorrect tones can lead to confusion with other characters. The term is more often used in literary or formal contexts, particularly when discussing themes of loss or emotional recovery. Common collocations include phrases for pulling carts or lamenting.
HSK Study Tips
While 挽 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to themes in HSK Level 3 and 4, such as actions involving movement and emotions. Students should focus on the character's multiple meanings, especially in literary contexts, to enhance their understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of lamenting the dead is significant, often tied to traditional mourning practices during festivals like Qingming Festival, where people honor ancestors. The character 挽 encapsulates both the physical and emotional aspects of this cultural practice.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 挽 with similar-sounding characters like 玩 (wán, to play) due to tonal overlap. It's important to remember that 挽 involves pulling or drawing, not playful actions. For example, saying 挽玩 instead of 挽 is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 挽
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Grammar Patterns of 挽
挽 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 10 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.
She stayed with them, linking arms with the two girls, joking with the boys.
10
他挽起她的手臂，带她匆匆上了楼，这样别人就听不见他们说的话了。
tā wǎn qǐ tā de shǒu bì， ， dài tā cōng cōng shàng le， lóu ， zhè yàng bié rén jiù tīng bù jiàn tā mén shuō de。
He took her arm and hurried her upstairs so that they wouldn'tbe overheard.
Cultural Notes for 挽
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the act of lamenting the dead is significant, often tied to traditional mourning practices during festivals like Qingming Festival, where people honor ancestors. The character 挽 encapsulates both the physical and emotional aspects of this cultural practice.
Word Family of 挽
Words Containing This Character15
挽救wǎnjiùto save
挽回wǎnhuíto retrieve
挽wǎnto pull
挽留to detain
力挽狂澜to pull strongly against a crazy tide (idiom); fig. to try hard to save a desperate crisis力挽狂瀾
无可挽回irrevocable無可挽回
挽联elegiac couplet輓聯
挽歌a dirge
挽具harness
挽幛large elegiac scroll
挽词an elegy挽詞
挽诗elegy輓詩
挽力pulling power (of draft animals)
挽额elegiac tablet挽額
挽辞an elegy挽辭
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 挽救 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 挽
Common phrases include 挽手 (to hold hands) and 挽歌 (a lament or elegy), which reflect both physical and emotional connections.
It is more commonly found in written or formal contexts, especially in literature or poetry, rather than casual conversations.
You can associate the sound wǎn with 'waning' as in lamenting the fading of life, which connects to its emotional meanings.
