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灣 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
灣wānbay, cove, gulf, inletx, 25 strokes, radical 氵, rank #61700, Very Hard
wān(wan1)wan T1
  1. 1bay, cove, gulf, inlet
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March 24, 2026

灣wān(wan1)

灣 (wān) refers to a body of water that is partly enclosed by land, commonly known as a bay or cove. It is used in geographical contexts to describe coastal features and can also appear in place names. The term evokes a sense of calmness and natural beauty often associated with coastal landscapes.

Strokes25Radical氵Frequency#61700DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In China, many cities and regions are named after bays, such as '深圳湾' (Shenzhen Bay), highlighting the importance of coastal geography in Chinese culture and urban development.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'waning' moon reflecting on the tranquil waters of a bay. The character 灣 is composed of the water radical 水 (shui), which signifies its connection to water, combined with the 'man' component, suggesting a serene place where you can sit and relax by the water's edge.

Meanings of 灣

wān(wan1)
1bay, cove, gulf, inlet
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 灣

灣Simplified
25Strokes
氵Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 灣

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Podcast: 灣

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AI study notes for 灣

Usage Notes

When using 灣, be mindful of its context; it is typically used in geographical descriptions rather than in everyday conversation. Common phrases include '海灣' (hǎiwān - sea bay) and '湖灣' (húwān - lake bay). Avoid confusing it with '湾' (wān) when used informally, as this can imply a more casual meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 灣 is not listed in HSK levels, it is useful for learners at HSK 3 and above, especially those interested in travel or geography. Focus on recognizing related terms such as '海' (hǎi - sea) and '湖' (hú - lake) to enhance your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 灣 with '湾' (also wān), which is a simplified character used in informal contexts. Remember that 灣 is the traditional form and is often used in more formal or geographical contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 灣

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Etymology of 灣

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 灣. Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 彎 represents the sound.

Memory hint

water

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

Origin

灣 = 氵 + 彎. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 灣

IDS Structure⿰氵彎
灣Full character
=
氵shui3
left
彎wan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 灣?

How to say bay, cove, gulf, inlet in Chinese

“bay, cove, gulf, inlet” in Chinese is灣wān

灣 (wān) refers to a body of water that is partly enclosed by land, commonly known as a bay or cove. It is used in geographical contexts to describe coastal features and can also appear in place names. The term evokes a sense of calmness and natural beauty often associated with coastal landscapes.

When to use 灣

When using 灣, be mindful of its context; it is typically used in geographical descriptions rather than in everyday conversation. Common phrases include '海灣' (hǎiwān - sea bay) and '湖灣' (húwān - lake bay). Avoid confusing it with '湾' (wān) when used informally, as this can imply a more casual meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 灣 with '湾' (also wān), which is a simplified character used in informal contexts. Remember that 灣 is the traditional form and is often used in more formal or geographical contexts.

Write 灣

灣

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

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Word Family of 灣

Words containing this character20
台湾Taiwan台灣
湾wānbay灣
海湾hǎiwānbay海灣
港湾gǎngwānnatural harbor港灣
墨西哥湾Gulf of Mexico墨西哥灣
关塔那摩湾Guantanamo Bay (in Cuba)關塔那摩灣
东京湾Tokyo Bay東京灣
台湾省Taiwan province (PRC term)臺灣省
台湾海峡Taiwan Strait台灣海峽
北部湾Gulf of Tonkin北部灣
荔湾区Liwan district of Guangzhou city 廣州市|广州市[Guǎng​zhōu​shì], Guangdong荔灣區
孟加拉湾Bay of Bengal孟加拉灣
台湾岛Taiwan Island臺灣島
杭州湾Hangzhou Bay杭州灣
卢湾区Luwan district, central Shanghai盧灣區
波斯湾Persian Gulf波斯灣
亚龙湾Yalong Bay in Sanya 三亞|三亚[Sān​yà], Hainan亞龍灣
渤海湾Bohai Bay渤海灣
湾仔Wan Chai district of Hong Kong灣仔
沙湾Shawan district of Leshan city 樂山市|乐山市[Lè​shān​shì], Sichuan沙灣
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 灣

What does 台湾 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 灣

The pinyin is 'wān' with a high-level tone, so make sure to hold the tone steady.

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