Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
遠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
遠yuǎndistant, remote, far; profoundzg, 13 strokes, radical 辶
yuǎn(yuan3)yuan T3
  1. 1distant, remote, far; profound
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

遠yuǎn(yuan3)

The character 遠 (yuǎn) means 'distant' or 'far away.' It is used to describe physical distances as well as abstract concepts, such as deep or profound ideas. Commonly used in phrases relating to travel, space, and emotional distance.

Strokes13Radical辶
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of distance often relates to relationships and emotional ties, such as in the saying '心遠' (xīn yuǎn), meaning 'hearts are far apart.' This reflects the emphasis on emotional distance in personal relationships.

Memory tip

Imagine a long road stretching far into the distance. The left side of the character (辶) resembles a pathway, while the right side (遠) gives a sense of depth. Remember 'yuǎn' sounds like 'yawn,' as if you're yawning over the long distance ahead.

Meanings of 遠

yuǎn(yuan3)
1distant, remote, far; profound
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 遠 means.

About 遠

遠Simplified
13Strokes
辶Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 遠

JasonAmy

Podcast: 遠

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 遠

Quick Contrast

近 (jìn, near) - use 遠 when emphasizing distance, while 近 focuses on closeness.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 遠 with 近 (jìn), which means 'near.' Be mindful of context; 遠 is more formal and often used in written language. Common collocations include 遠方 (yuǎnfāng, 'distant place') and 遠足 (yuǎnzú, 'long-distance walk').

HSK Study Tips

Although 遠 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other distance-related words like 近 (jìn) and 遠足 (yuǎnzú). Focus on using it in sentences to describe distances in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 遠 with 远 (yùan), which is an incorrect spelling. Ensure correct pronunciation and tone; it should be pronounced with a falling-rising tone, not flat.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 遠

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 遠 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 遠 to You

Let me explain 遠 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 遠 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 遠?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 遠 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 遠

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

Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 元 represents the sound. Simplified form of 遠.

Memory hint

walk

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

Origin

遠 = 辶 + 袁. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 遠

IDS Structure⿺辶袁
遠Full character
=
辶chuo4
enclosing
袁Yuan2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 遠?

How to say distant, remote, far; profound in Chinese

“distant, remote, far; profound” in Chinese is遠yuǎn

The character 遠 (yuǎn) means 'distant' or 'far away.' It is used to describe physical distances as well as abstract concepts, such as deep or profound ideas. Commonly used in phrases relating to travel, space, and emotional distance.

When to use 遠

Learners often confuse 遠 with 近 (jìn), which means 'near.' Be mindful of context; 遠 is more formal and often used in written language. Common collocations include 遠方 (yuǎnfāng, 'distant place') and 遠足 (yuǎnzú, 'long-distance walk').

遠 or something close to it

近 (jìn, near) - use 遠 when emphasizing distance, while 近 focuses on closeness.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 遠 with 远 (yùan), which is an incorrect spelling. Ensure correct pronunciation and tone; it should be pronounced with a falling-rising tone, not flat.

Write 遠

遠

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 遠?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 遠

Words containing this character20
永远yǒngyuǎnforever永遠
远yuǎnfar遠
远远yuǎnyuǎndistant遠遠
远离yuǎnlíto be far from遠離
遥远yáoyuǎndistant遙遠
长远chángyuǎnlong-term長遠
远处yuǎnchùdistant place遠處
远程yuǎnchéngremote遠程
远方yuǎnfāngfar away遠方
老远lǎoyuǎnvery far away老遠
望远镜wàngyuǎnjìngbinoculars望遠鏡
深远shēnyuǎnfar-reaching深遠
疏远shūyuǎnto drift apart疏遠
远东Far East (loanword)遠東
远期long-term遠期
远大broad遠大
偏远piānyuǎnremote偏遠
远征march to remote regions遠征
远见yuǎnjiànvision遠見
远古antiquity遠古
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 遠

What does 永远 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 遠

You can say '这座山很远' (Zhè zuò shān hěn yuǎn), meaning 'This mountain is very far away.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 遠?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab