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漫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
漫
màn
free
HSK 7, a, 14 strokes, radical 氵, rank #10114, Very Hard
漫
màn
unrestrained
HSK 7, a, 14 strokes, radical 氵, rank #10114, Very Hard
漫
màn
to inundate
HSK 7, a, 14 strokes, radical 氵, rank #10114, Very Hard
漫
màn
inundating; exaggerated
HSK 7, a, 14 strokes, radical 氵, rank #10114, Very Hard
màn(man4)man T4
1free
2unrestrained
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March 24, 2026
漫màn(man4)
The character 漫 (màn) conveys a sense of being free or unrestrained, often in the context of something flowing or spreading abundantly. It is commonly used to describe exaggerated expressions or vast, unconfined spaces, such as in literature, art, or nature. In daily life, it can refer to something being overwhelming or an abundance of something, like a flood of ideas or emotions.
Strokes14Radical氵Frequency#10114DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, 漫 can relate to the art of 漫画 (mànhuà), which is an important part of pop culture, with comic books and animations being widely appreciated. The concept of unrestrained creativity is celebrated in various forms of traditional and modern art.
Memory tip
Imagine a river (the water radical 水) flowing freely and wildly (represented by the character's form), creating a vast, unconfined area that inundates everything around it – this visual of water overflowing connects to the pronunciation 'màn' as it flows smoothly.
Meanings of 漫
màn(man4)
1free
2unrestrained
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 漫 means.
About 漫
漫Simplified
14Strokes
氵Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#10114Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 漫
Podcast: 漫
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AI study notes for 漫
Quick Contrast
漫 (màn) vs 广 (guǎng) — choose 漫 for a sense of unrestrained flow or abundance, while 广 emphasizes wide, expansive areas.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 漫 (màn), as it is a fourth tone and can be confused with similar-sounding words. It's often used in literary contexts or to describe art styles, so ensure you use it appropriately in formal discussions or descriptions. Common collocations include 漫画 (mànhuà, 'comic') and 漫游 (mànyóu, 'wander leisurely').
HSK Study Tips
Although 漫 is not included in the HSK levels, understanding it reinforces vocabulary related to abundance and freedom. Students should focus on its use in adjectives and how it connects with other words describing emotions, space, and artistic expression, which may appear in advanced levels.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 漫 (màn) with similar-sounding words like 蛮 (mán), which has a different meaning (rude or savage). Ensure you use the correct context to avoid confusion, such as saying 漫长 (màncháng, 'long and unrestrained') instead of 蛮长.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 漫
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Example
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Knowing 漫 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.
漫 = 氵 + 曼. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 漫
IDS Structure⿰氵曼
漫Full character
=
氵shui3
left
曼man4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 漫?
How to say free in Chinese
“free” in Chinese is漫màn
The character 漫 (màn) conveys a sense of being free or unrestrained, often in the context of something flowing or spreading abundantly. It is commonly used to describe exaggerated expressions or vast, unconfined spaces, such as in literature, art, or nature. In daily life, it can refer to something being overwhelming or an abundance of something, like a flood of ideas or emotions.
When to use 漫
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 漫 (màn), as it is a fourth tone and can be confused with similar-sounding words. It's often used in literary contexts or to describe art styles, so ensure you use it appropriately in formal discussions or descriptions. Common collocations include 漫画 (mànhuà, 'comic') and 漫游 (mànyóu, 'wander leisurely').
漫 or something close to it
漫 (màn) vs 广 (guǎng) — choose 漫 for a sense of unrestrained flow or abundance, while 广 emphasizes wide, expansive areas.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 漫 (màn) with similar-sounding words like 蛮 (mán), which has a different meaning (rude or savage). Ensure you use the correct context to avoid confusion, such as saying 漫长 (màncháng, 'long and unrestrained') instead of 蛮长.
Write 漫
漫
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Practice writing 漫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 漫
漫 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 4 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.
通往和平的道路将很____长。
The road to peace will be long and drawn-out.
Common confusions with 漫
漫vs慢
màn
Same pronunciation but different meaning.
漫vs满
mǎn
Similar pronunciation but different meaning and tone.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “free”?
or
Usage Notes for 漫
Misuse of 漫 in contextsCommon Error
Learners often confuse 漫 with other characters that describe different qualities of being unrestrained or free.
1
他画的风景很漫，不够细致。
The landscape he painted is very free, not detailed enough.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他画的风景很____，不够细致。
The landscape he painted is very free, not detailed enough.
Example sentences for 漫 (10)
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1
通往和平的道路将很漫长。
tōngwǎng hépíng de dàolù jiāng hěn màncháng。
The road to peace will be long and drawn-out.
2
养育孩子的现实经常与浪漫的理想大相径庭。
yǎngyù háizi de xiànshí jīngcháng yǔ làngmàn de lǐxiǎng dà Xiāng jìng tíng。
The reality of mothering is frequently very different from the romantic ideal.
3
这整个地方就是那位家长式乡绅的浪漫想象。
zhè zhěnggè dìfang jiùshì nà wèi jiāzhǎng shì xiāng shēn de làngmàn xiǎngxiàng。
The whole place was the romantic vision of the paternalist local squire.
The last stop in Mr Cook's lengthy tour was Paris.
5
婚姻生活并不像他想象的那么浪漫美好。
hūnyīn shēnghuó bìng bù xiàng tā xiǎngxiàng de nàme làngmàn měihǎo。
Married life was not as idyllic as he had imagined.
6
他漠然而漫无目标地注视着不远处。
tā mòrán ér màn wú mùbiāo dì zhùshì zhe bù yuǎnchù。
He stares detachedly into the middle distance, towards nothing in particular.
7
有报道称首都弥漫着不满的情绪。
yǒu bàodào chèn shǒudū mímàn zhe bùmǎn de qíngxù。
There are reports of widespread dis-content in the capital.
8
在几个小时漫无目的的搜寻之后，他们快没燃料了。
zài jǐ gè xiǎoshí màn wú mùdì de sōuxún zhīhòu， tāmen kuài méi ránliào le。
After several hours of aimless searching they were getting low on fuel.
9
那座城市的街道肮脏不堪，弥漫着令人窒息的废气。
nà zuò chéngshì de jiēdào āng zāng bùkān， mímàn zhe lìng rén zhìxī de fèi qì。
The city's streets are filthy and choked with exhaust fumes.
10
“我会没事的，”他漫不经心地说，“那只是想想而已。”
“ wǒ huì méishì de，” tā màn bù Jīng xīn dì shuō，“ nà zhǐshì xiǎng xiǎng éryǐ。”
"I'll be all right," he said airily. "It was only a thought."
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Cultural Notes for 漫
💡Did you know?
The character 漫 is often associated with the idea of freedom, similar to the open flow of water in nature, representing a sense of ease and lack of constraints in life.
Word Family of 漫
Words containing this character20
浪漫làngmànromantic
漫画mànhuàcaricature漫畫
漫长mànchángvery long漫長
漫mànfree
漫步mànbùto wander
弥漫mímànto pervade彌漫
漫漫mànmànlong
漫游mànyóuto roam漫遊
漫天màntiāneverywhere
漫画家mànhuàjiācartoon writer (from Japanese mangaka)漫畫家
浪漫主义làngmànzhǔyìromanticism浪漫主義
漫不经心mànbùjīngxīncareless漫不經心
散漫sǎnmànundisciplined
烂漫lànmànbrightly colored爛漫
漫天要价màntiānyàojiàto ask for sky-high prices漫天要價
漫无目的mànwúmùdìaimless漫無目的
天真烂漫tiānzhēnlànmàninnocent and unaffected天真爛漫
漫山遍野mànshānbiànyěcovering everything
漫无边际mànwúbiānjìextremely vast漫無邊際
漫天飞舞màntiānfēiwǔ(of snow etc) to fill the sky漫天飛舞
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 漫
What does 浪漫 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 漫
漫 is classified as an HSK level 7 character, indicating it is considered advanced. Understanding this character is important for learners aiming to achieve fluency and comprehend higher-level texts in Chinese literature or conversation.
Some synonyms for 漫 include 自由 (zìyóu), which means 'freedom,' and 无拘无束 (wú jū wú shù), meaning 'unconstrained.' These words can be used in similar contexts to convey the idea of being free or unrestrained.
You can use 漫 in sentences to describe actions or states that are free or unrestrained. For example, '他漫游在城市中' (tā màn yóu zài chéngshì zhōng) means 'He wanders freely in the city.' This illustrates the character's meaning of freedom.
漫 (màn) generally means 'free' or 'unrestrained.' It can also imply a sense of inundation, such as being overwhelmed by something. This character often conveys a feeling of ease and lack of restrictions in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
In everyday conversation, 漫 often describes things that feel free, unrestrained, or overwhelming, such as emotions or ideas.
In literature, 漫 can describe a style that is exaggerated or flowing, often creating vivid imagery of expansive or emotional landscapes.
Yes, words like 流 (liú, 'to flow') and 泛 (fàn, 'to spread over') have similar meanings, focusing on the idea of movement and abundance.
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