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栏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
栏
lán
fence
HSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #8522, Hard
栏
lán
railing
HSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #8522, Hard
栏
lán
hurdle
HSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #8522, Hard
栏
lán
column or box (of text or other data)
HSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #8522, Hard
栏
lán
fence, railing, balustrade
HSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #8522, Hard
lán(lan2)lan T2
1fence
2railing
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
栏(欄)lán(lan2)
The character 栏 (lán) primarily refers to a fence or railing, often used in both physical and metaphorical contexts. In addition to its literal meaning, it can also denote a column or box in textual data, such as a column in a table. This word is commonly used in both everyday conversations and more formal writing when discussing barriers or organizational structures.
Strokes9Radical木Frequency#8522DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese architecture, railings (栏) have significant aesthetic and safety roles, especially in traditional gardens and temples where they enhance beauty while providing safety. The concept of barriers is also prominent in Chinese philosophy, symbolizing protection and separation.
Memory tip
Imagine a fence (栏) standing tall, protecting a garden. The left component '木' (tree) signifies wood, which is commonly used for railings and fences, while the right component '阑' suggests a boundary. Picture a friendly garden gnome peeking through the fence, reminding you that 'lán' sounds like 'land', where fences are found.
Meanings of 栏
lán(lan2)
1fence
2railing
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 栏 means.
About 栏
栏Simplified
欄Traditional
9Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#8522Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 栏
Podcast: 栏
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AI study notes for 栏
Quick Contrast
栏 (lán) vs 柱 (zhù) — use 栏 for railings or barriers, and 柱 for vertical supports or pillars.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 栏 with similar characters, such as 栏杆 (lán gān), which means 'railing'. This character is more formal and is often used in written language, particularly in academic or technical contexts. Pay attention to pronunciation, ensuring that the third tone is correctly emphasized.
HSK Study Tips
Although 栏 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, it can be connected to related terms at higher levels, such as 栏杆 (railing) and 文章 (wén zhāng, article). Focus on recognizing the character's radicals and using it in context, as it may appear in reading comprehension sections.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 栏 in place of similar characters like 栏杆. For example, saying '我需要一个栏' (I need a fence) instead of '我需要一个栏杆'. Make sure to use 栏 specifically for columns or boxes and 栏杆 for railings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 栏
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 栏 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.
栏 = 木 + 兰. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 栏
IDS Structure⿰木兰
栏Full character
=
木Mu4
left
兰Lan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 栏?
How to say fence in Chinese
“fence” in Chinese is栏lán
The character 栏 (lán) primarily refers to a fence or railing, often used in both physical and metaphorical contexts. In addition to its literal meaning, it can also denote a column or box in textual data, such as a column in a table. This word is commonly used in both everyday conversations and more formal writing when discussing barriers or organizational structures.
When to use 栏
Be careful not to confuse 栏 with similar characters, such as 栏杆 (lán gān), which means 'railing'. This character is more formal and is often used in written language, particularly in academic or technical contexts. Pay attention to pronunciation, ensuring that the third tone is correctly emphasized.
栏 or something close to it
栏 (lán) vs 柱 (zhù) — use 栏 for railings or barriers, and 柱 for vertical supports or pillars.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 栏 in place of similar characters like 栏杆. For example, saying '我需要一个栏' (I need a fence) instead of '我需要一个栏杆'. Make sure to use 栏 specifically for columns or boxes and 栏杆 for railings.
Write 栏
栏
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Practice writing 栏 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 栏
栏 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 5 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.
我为他代写《电讯报》每周的橄榄球专____。
I ghosted his weekly rugby column for the Telegraph.
Example sentences for 栏 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我为他代写《电讯报》每周的橄榄球专栏。
wǒ wèi tā dài xiě《 diànxùn bào》 měi zhōu de gǎn lǎn qiú zhuānlán。
I ghosted his weekly rugby column for the Telegraph.
2
围栏倒下时发出了断裂的声音。
wéi lán dǎoxià shí fāchū le duànliè de shēngyīn。
There was a splintering sound as the railing gave way.
3
不大的教堂墓地周边围着一圈生锈的熟铁栅栏。
bùdà de jiàotáng mùdì zhōubiān wéi zhe yī juān shēngxiù de shóu tiě zhà lán。
The small churchyard was surrounded by a rusted wrought-iron fence.
4
通俗报纸的内页都有照片专栏.
tōngsú bàozhǐ de nèi yè dōu yǒu zhàopiàn zhuānlán.
The popular papers all have photo features on their inside pages.
5
警卫在拆除一段围栏好让它通过。
jǐng wèi zài chāichú yī duàn wéi lán hǎo ràng tā tōngguò。
The guards were removing a section of fencing to let it through.
