HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Very Hard
挽
wǎn
to draw (a cart or a bow)
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Very Hard
挽
wǎn
to roll up
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Very Hard
挽
wǎn
to coil
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Very Hard
挽
wǎn
to carry on the arm
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Very Hard
挽
wǎn
to lament the dead
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Very Hard
挽
wǎn
(fig.) to pull against
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Very Hard
挽
wǎn
to recover
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Very Hard
挽
wǎn
to draw (a cart)
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Very Hard
挽
wǎn
to pull, to lead; to pull back, to draw a bow
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15675, Very Hard
wǎn(wan3)wan 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#15675DifficultyVery Hard
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
By ear
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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.
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.
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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How Well Do You Know 挽?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 挽 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
挽 = 扌 + 免. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 挽
IDS Structure⿰扌免
挽Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
免mian3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 挽?
How to say to pull in Chinese
“to pull” in Chinese is挽wǎn
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.
When to use 挽
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.
挽 or something close to it
拉 (lā, to pull) — use 挽 (wǎn) when emphasizing a more nuanced or emotional context, such as mourning.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 挽
挽
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Practice writing 挽 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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.
