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March 24, 2026
蔓mán(man2)
The character 蔓 (mán) primarily refers to a creeping plant or vine, such as those that spread out along the ground or climb upwards. It can also denote a turnip, particularly in agricultural contexts. This word is often used in discussions about gardening, botany, and farming.
Strokes14Radical艹Frequency#15209DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese agriculture, turnips and similar root vegetables play an important role in traditional diets, especially in northern regions. The concept of creeping plants is also significant in Chinese gardening aesthetics, where harmony with nature is emphasized.
Memory Tip
Imagine a vine (蔓) that 'manages' to spread everywhere it grows. The character looks like the vine itself, spreading out with its leafy components, and the pronunciation 'mán' sounds like 'man', who is always trying to stretch his reach.
Meanings of 蔓
mán(man2)
primary
1turnip
2Brassica campestris
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 蔓
蔓Simplified
14Strokes
艹Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#15209Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蔓
Podcast: 蔓
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AI Study Notes for 蔓
Quick Contrast
蔓 (mán) vs 爬 (pá) — use 蔓 when referring specifically to creeping plants or vines, while 爬 indicates the action of climbing more generally.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 蔓 with similar-sounding characters like 曼 (màn), which means 'elegant' or 'graceful'. This word is generally used in a more formal context, especially in botany and agriculture. Common collocations include 蔓生 (to spread), 蔓藤 (creeping vine).
HSK Study Tips
Though 蔓 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, understanding this word can enhance your comprehension of plant-related terms in Chinese. It connects with other words related to nature and agriculture, so pay attention to its usage in those contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蔓 with other plant-related terms, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying 蔓生 (to spread) when referring to a plant that does not creep, which should instead use a more appropriate term like 生长 (to grow).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蔓
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1The giveawayA long 曼 plant 艹 ; 曼 also provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 蔓? 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 蔓?
Decomposition of 蔓
IDS Structure⿱艹曼
蔓Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
曼man4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 蔓?
How to say turnip in Chinese
“turnip” in Chinese is蔓mán
The character 蔓 (mán) primarily refers to a creeping plant or vine, such as those that spread out along the ground or climb upwards. It can also denote a turnip, particularly in agricultural contexts. This word is often used in discussions about gardening, botany, and farming.
When to use 蔓
Be careful not to confuse 蔓 with similar-sounding characters like 曼 (màn), which means 'elegant' or 'graceful'. This word is generally used in a more formal context, especially in botany and agriculture. Common collocations include 蔓生 (to spread), 蔓藤 (creeping vine).
蔓 or something close to it
蔓 (mán) vs 爬 (pá) — use 蔓 when referring specifically to creeping plants or vines, while 爬 indicates the action of climbing more generally.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 蔓 with other plant-related terms, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying 蔓生 (to spread) when referring to a plant that does not creep, which should instead use a more appropriate term like 生长 (to grow).
Write 蔓
蔓
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Practice writing 蔓 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 蔓
蔓 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 5 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
Complete the Sentence
传染病正在遭受洪灾的很多灾民中____延。
Infectious diseases are spreading among many of the flood victims.
