Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
欖lǎn(lan3)
The character 欖 (lǎn) refers to the olive tree and its fruit. It is commonly used in contexts related to culinary uses, health benefits, and agricultural discussions. This word carries connotations of nourishment and natural health, as olives are often associated with Mediterranean diets.
Strokes25Radical木Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, olives are appreciated for their health benefits and are often featured in traditional dishes. The olive tree symbolizes peace and prosperity, reflecting its significance in both culinary and cultural practices.
Memory Tip
Imagine an olive tree with its leaves (the radical 欠) resembling a hand reaching out for nourishment. The character 欖 sounds like 'lan' which can remind you of 'land' where olives grow abundantly.
Meanings of 欖
lǎn(lan3)
1olive
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 欖
欖Simplified
25Strokes
木Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 欖
Podcast: 欖
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 欖
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine an olive tree with its leaves (the radical 欠) resembling a hand reaching out for nourishment. The character 欖 sounds like 'lan' which can remind you of 'land' where olives grow abundantly.
Usage Notes
This term is more commonly used in written Chinese and may not be frequently encountered in everyday conversation. Be careful to use it in contexts related to food or agriculture to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words. A common collocation is '橄榄油' (gǎn lǎn yóu), meaning olive oil.
HSK Study Tips
Although 欖 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is related to HSK Level 3 words like '油' (yóu) for oil. Focus on recognizing its usage in culinary contexts to build connections with food-related vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, olives are appreciated for their health benefits and are often featured in traditional dishes. The olive tree symbolizes peace and prosperity, reflecting its significance in both culinary and cultural practices.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 欖 (lǎn) with other similar characters like 橄 (gǎn). For instance, saying '我喜欢吃橄' instead of '我喜欢吃橄榄' is incorrect; make sure to use the complete word for clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 欖
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 欖 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 欖 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 欖
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, olives are appreciated for their health benefits and are often featured in traditional dishes. The olive tree symbolizes peace and prosperity, reflecting its significance in both culinary and cultural practices.
Word Family of 欖
Words Containing This Character9
橄榄球football played with oval-shaped ball (rugby, American football, Australian rules etc)橄欖球
橄榄olive橄欖
橄榄油olive oil橄欖油
榄lǎnolive欖
橄榄石peridot橄欖石
橄榄枝olive branch橄欖枝
橄榄岩peridotite (geology)橄欖岩
橄榄树olive tree橄欖樹
乌榄black olive (Canarium tramdenum)烏欖
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 橄榄球 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 欖
It is pronounced as 'lǎn' with a third tone.
Common dishes include olive oil dressings, tapenade, or olives served as appetizers.
No, it is more often found in written texts or specific culinary discussions.
