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缠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
缠
chán
to wind around
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 纟, rank #3144, Very Hard
缠
chán
to wrap round
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 纟, rank #3144, Very Hard
缠
chán
to coil
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 纟, rank #3144, Very Hard
缠
chán
tangle
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 纟, rank #3144, Very Hard
缠
chán
to involve
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 纟, rank #3144, Very Hard
缠
chán
to bother
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 纟, rank #3144, Very Hard
缠
chán
to annoy
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 纟, rank #3144, Very Hard
缠
chán
to wrap, to entangle; to involve; to bother, to annoy
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 纟, rank #3144, Very Hard
chán(chan2)chan T2
1to wind around
2to wrap round
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March 24, 2026
缠(纏)chán(chan2)
The character 缠 (chán) means to wind or wrap around something, often implying a sense of entanglement or involvement. It can be used in both literal contexts, such as wrapping a rope or cloth, and figurative ones, like being bothered or annoyed by someone or something. The word conveys a sense of complexity and can indicate a feeling of being trapped in a situation.
Strokes13Radical纟Frequency#3144DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of being 'wrapped' or 'entangled' can often relate to interpersonal relationships, where people may feel 'tangled' in social obligations or familial duties, reflecting the importance of connection in Chinese society.
Memory tip
Imagine a snake (the radical '纟' suggests silk or thread) winding around a tree trunk. The snake, representing the action of 'winding', gives you a visual connection to the sound 'chán'. Picture the snake getting tangled as it wraps around, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 缠
chán(chan2)
1to wind around
2to wrap round
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 缠 means.
About 缠
缠Simplified
纏Traditional
13Strokes
纟Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3144Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 缠
Podcast: 缠
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AI study notes for 缠
Quick Contrast
缠 (chán) vs 绑 (bǎng) — use 缠 for a sense of entanglement or complexity, while 绑 focuses on the act of tying securely.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 缠 with other similar-sounding words like 缠绕 (chánrào), which specifically means 'to wind around' or 'to coil'. This word is more informal and often used in conversational contexts, so be mindful of the situation when using it. Pay attention to tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning significantly.
HSK Study Tips
While 缠 is not specifically included in the HSK levels, it connects well with other vocabulary related to actions and states of being. Students should focus on understanding its various contexts and practice using it in sentences to enhance their fluency.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 缠 with 缠绕 (chánrào), mistakenly using it when they mean to say 'wrap around' instead of 'tangle' or 'bother'. For example, saying '我缠绕你' (Wǒ chánrào nǐ) instead of '我缠着你' (Wǒ chánzhe nǐ) can lead to confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 缠
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Knowing 缠 is seven skills, not one.
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缠 = 纟 + 㢆. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 缠
IDS Structure⿰纟㢆
缠Full character
=
纟si1
left
㢆chan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 缠?
How to say to wind around in Chinese
“to wind around” in Chinese is缠chán
The character 缠 (chán) means to wind or wrap around something, often implying a sense of entanglement or involvement. It can be used in both literal contexts, such as wrapping a rope or cloth, and figurative ones, like being bothered or annoyed by someone or something. The word conveys a sense of complexity and can indicate a feeling of being trapped in a situation.
When to use 缠
Common mistakes include confusing 缠 with other similar-sounding words like 缠绕 (chánrào), which specifically means 'to wind around' or 'to coil'. This word is more informal and often used in conversational contexts, so be mindful of the situation when using it. Pay attention to tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning significantly.
缠 or something close to it
缠 (chán) vs 绑 (bǎng) — use 缠 for a sense of entanglement or complexity, while 绑 focuses on the act of tying securely.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 缠 with 缠绕 (chánrào), mistakenly using it when they mean to say 'wrap around' instead of 'tangle' or 'bother'. For example, saying '我缠绕你' (Wǒ chánrào nǐ) instead of '我缠着你' (Wǒ chánzhe nǐ) can lead to confusion.
Write 缠
缠
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Practice writing 缠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 缠
缠 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 8 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.
This case was bound to get entangled in international politics.
8
他被撞见拼命想要解开几盘缠在一起的胶卷。
tā bèi zhuàng jiàn pīnmìng xiǎngyào jiěkāi jǐ pán chán zài yìqǐ de jiāo juǎn。
He was found desperately trying to untangle several reels of film.
9
他的头上缠满了一层层用床单撕成的绷带。
tā de tóu shàng chán mǎn le yī céng céng yòng chuángdān sī chéng de bēngdài。
His head was swathed in bandages made from a torn sheet.
10
一些东西缠在了发动机下面的机件上。
yìxiē dōngxi chán zài le fādòng Jī xiàmiàn de Jī jiàn shàng。
Some objects had got entangled with the underneath mechanism of the engine.
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Word Family of 缠
Words containing this character20
缠chánto coil纏
纠缠jiūchánto nag糾纏
缠绕chánràotwisting纏繞
缠绵chánmiántouching (emotions)纏綿
缠身chánshēnto preoccupy sb纏身
难缠nánchándemanding難纏
纠缠不清jiūchánbùqīnghopelessly muddled糾纏不清
腰缠万贯yāochánwànguànloaded腰纏萬貫
胡搅蛮缠hújiǎománchánto pester endlessly (idiom)胡攪蠻纏
盘缠pánchánto twine盤纏
缠绵悱恻chánmiánfěicèvery sentimental纏綿悱惻
缠足chánzúfoot-binding纏足
蛮缠mánchánto pester蠻纏
牵缠qiānchánto involve牽纏
胡缠húchánto pester胡纏
缠扰chánrǎoto harass纏擾
缠手chánshǒutroublesome纏手
缠夹不清chánjiābùqīngto muddle things together (idiom)纏夾不清
缠夹chánjiāto annoy纏夾
厮缠sīchánto tangle with廝纏
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 缠
What does 纠缠 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 缠
Related words include 缠绕 (chánrào), which means to wrap around, and 干扰 (gānrǎo), which means to interfere or disturb, emphasizing the aspect of being bothered.
It's mostly used in informal contexts; for formal writing, consider using more specific terms like 包裹 (bāoguǒ) for wrapping.
You can use it like this: '这条绳子缠在树上了' (Zhè tiáo shéngzi chán zài shù shàng le), meaning 'This rope is tangled around the tree.'
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