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栾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
luánvarnish tree; surnamenr, 10 strokes, radical 木, Very Hard
luánsurname Luanunknown, 10 strokes, radical 木, Very Hard
luán(Luan2) T2
  1. 1varnish tree; surname
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March 24, 2026

(欒)luán(Luan2)

The character 栾 (luán) primarily refers to the varnish tree, which is known for its use in traditional Chinese lacquer. It can also serve as a surname in Chinese culture. As a surname, it is less common than others but still holds significance for those who carry it.

Strokes10RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, parts of the varnish tree are used for medicinal purposes, emphasizing the connection between nature and health in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tree (木) covered in shiny varnish (栾) that reflects sunlight. The sound 'luán' can be remembered by thinking of 'lawn' where trees might grow, combining the idea of nature with shiny finishes.

Meanings of 栾

luán(Luan2)
1varnish tree; surname
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 栾

Simplified
Traditional
10Strokes
Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 栾

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AI Study Notes for 栾

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a tree (木) covered in shiny varnish (栾) that reflects sunlight. The sound 'luán' can be remembered by thinking of 'lawn' where trees might grow, combining the idea of nature with shiny finishes.

Usage Notes

This character is primarily used in botanical contexts or when discussing surnames. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with other similar characters in pronunciation or meaning, particularly in informal contexts where surnames are mentioned.

HSK Study Tips

Although 栾 is not included in the HSK levels, it relates to the theme of nature and plants, which are common in early HSK vocabulary. Students at lower levels should focus on common plant-related terms to build familiarity.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, parts of the varnish tree are used for medicinal purposes, emphasizing the connection between nature and health in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 栾 (luán) with similar sounding surnames like 兰 (lán) or 龄 (líng). It's important to remember that 栾 specifically refers to the varnish tree or the surname Luan.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 栾

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Etymology of 栾

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

tree

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 栾?

Decomposition of 栾

IDS Structure⿱亦木
Full Character
=
yi4
top
Mu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 栾?

Write 栾

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

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Cultural Notes for 栾

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese medicine, parts of the varnish tree are used for medicinal purposes, emphasizing the connection between nature and health in Chinese culture.

Word Family of 栾

Words Containing This Character5
luánsurname Luan
栾川Luanchuan county in Luoyang 洛陽|洛阳, Henan欒川
栾城Luancheng county in Shijiazhuang 石家莊|石家庄[Shí​jiā​zhuāng], Hebei欒城
栾川县Luanchuan county in Luoyang 洛陽|洛阳, Henan欒川縣
栾城县Luancheng county in Shijiazhuang 石家莊|石家庄[Shí​jiā​zhuāng], Hebei欒城縣
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 栾 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 栾

No, 栾 is relatively uncommon compared to other Chinese surnames.