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罨 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
罨yǎnmedical compress; fishing netg, 13 strokes, radical 罒
罨yǎnfomentunknown, 13 strokes, radical 罒
罨yǎnvalveunknown, 13 strokes, radical 罒
yǎn(yan3) T3
  1. 1medical compress; fishing net
  2. 2foment
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

罨yǎn(yan3)

The character 罨 (yǎn) primarily refers to a type of medical compress or fomentation, often used in traditional Chinese medicine to alleviate pain or inflammation. It can also mean a fishing net, reflecting its use in both medical and practical contexts. The nuance of this character suggests a covering or application that serves a protective or therapeutic purpose.

Strokes13Radical罒
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the use of compresses and fomentations is a common practice, highlighting the holistic approach to health that emphasizes natural remedies. This character reflects the integration of daily life and health practices in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fisherman named Yan who uses a large net (罨) to catch fish while also carrying a medical compress to treat any cuts or bruises. The shape of the character resembles a net being cast over something, linking it visually to its meanings.

Meanings of 罨

yǎn(yan3)
1medical compress; fishing net
2foment
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 罨

罨Simplified
13Strokes
罒Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 罨

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Podcast: 罨

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AI Study Notes for 罨

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 罨 with similar characters due to its uncommon usage. It is more formal and might be found in medical texts or discussions rather than in everyday conversation. Pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstanding.

HSK Study Tips

While 罨 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to themes in HSK Level 3 and beyond, particularly in medical or traditional contexts. Students should familiarize themselves with related terms in healthcare to build a more comprehensive vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 罨 as 'yan' without the correct tone, which changes its meaning. Another common mistake is confusing it with similar characters like 眼 (yǎn), which means 'eye.' Be sure to practice the tones and context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 罨

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Etymology of 罨

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

net

Semantic (meaning)罒
+
Phonetic (sound)奄
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 罨

  1. 1The meaning half罒 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half奄 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaynet
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 罨? 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 罨?

Decomposition of 罨

IDS Structure⿱罒奄
罨Full Character
=
罒wang3
top
奄yan1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 罨?

How to say medical compress; fishing net in Chinese

“medical compress; fishing net” in Chinese is罨yǎn

The character 罨 (yǎn) primarily refers to a type of medical compress or fomentation, often used in traditional Chinese medicine to alleviate pain or inflammation. It can also mean a fishing net, reflecting its use in both medical and practical contexts. The nuance of this character suggests a covering or application that serves a protective or therapeutic purpose.

When to use 罨

Learners often confuse 罨 with similar characters due to its uncommon usage. It is more formal and might be found in medical texts or discussions rather than in everyday conversation. Pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstanding.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 罨 as 'yan' without the correct tone, which changes its meaning. Another common mistake is confusing it with similar characters like 眼 (yǎn), which means 'eye.' Be sure to practice the tones and context.

Write 罨

罨

Practice writing 罨 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 罨

Words Containing This Character1
罨yǎnfoment
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 罨 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 罨

罨 is primarily used in medical contexts to refer to compresses, but it can also denote fishing nets.

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