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栾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
栾luánsurname Luanunknown, 10 strokes, radical 木
栾luánvarnish tree; surnamenr, 10 strokes, radical 木
luán(Luan2) T2
  1. 1surname Luan
  2. 2varnish tree; surname
Also a Chinese surname, Luan — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

栾(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.

Strokes10Radical木
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

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

Podcast: 栾

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Podcast: 栾

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AI Study Notes for 栾

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.

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)木
+
Phonetic (sound)亦
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 栾

  1. 1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half亦 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaytree
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 栾? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 栾?

Decomposition of 栾

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

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 栾?

How to say surname Luan in Chinese

“surname Luan” in Chinese is栾luán

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.

When to use 栾

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.

What learners get wrong

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.

Write 栾

栾

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 栾

Words Containing This Character5
栾luánsurname Luan欒
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.

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