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闰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
闰rùnintercalary; extra, surplusnr, 7 strokes, radical 门, rank #66105, Very Hard
闰rùnan extra day or month inserted into the lunar or solar calendar (such as February 29)unknown, 7 strokes, radical 门, rank #66105, Very Hard
rùn(run4) T4
  1. 1intercalary; extra, surplus
  2. 2an extra day or month inserted into the lunar or solar calendar (such as February 29)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

闰(閏)rùn(run4)

The character 闰 (rùn) refers to an intercalary period in a calendar, such as an extra day or month added to align lunar and solar calendars. It is commonly used in the context of the lunar calendar where certain years have an additional month to ensure the seasons remain consistent with specific dates.

Strokes7Radical门Frequency#66105DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the lunar calendar plays a crucial role in determining festivals and agricultural activities. The occurrence of 闰 years is significant because it ensures the timing of important cultural events aligns with the seasons.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'run' (rùn) around the calendar to catch up with the seasons. The character 闰 has the radical 门 (door) suggesting a 'doorway' to an extra time, allowing you to step into an additional month or day.

Meanings of 闰

rùn(run4)
1intercalary; extra, surplus
2an extra day or month inserted into the lunar or solar calendar (such as February 29)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 闰

闰Simplified
閏Traditional
7Strokes
门Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 闰

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Podcast: 闰

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AI Study Notes for 闰

Usage Notes

This term is primarily used in formal contexts related to calendars and timekeeping. Learners often confuse it with other time-related terms; remember that 闰 specifically refers to the extra time added, not just any additional time. It’s also important to use the correct tone, as rùn with the fourth tone can mean something entirely different.

HSK Study Tips

Although 闰 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with time-related words often encountered in daily life. Focus on understanding the concept of lunar versus solar calendars, as well as other terms related to time, such as 月 (yuè) for month and 年 (nián) for year.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 闰 by applying it to any extra time, while it specifically relates to intercalary periods in calendars. For example, saying '这个月有闰' (This month has an extra) is incorrect; instead, specify the context like '今年是闰年' (This year is a leap year).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 闰

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Etymology of 闰

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

Phonosemantic compound. 王 represents the meaning and 门 represents the sound. Simplified form of 閏.

Memory Hint

royal decree

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 闰

Phonosemantic compound. 王 represents the meaning and 门 represents the sound. Simplified form of 閏.

  1. 1The meaning half王 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half门 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayroyal decree
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 闰? 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 闰?

Decomposition of 闰

IDS Structure⿵门王
闰Full Character
=
门Men2
enclosing
王Wang2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 闰?

How to say intercalary; extra, surplus in Chinese

“intercalary; extra, surplus” in Chinese is闰rùn

The character 闰 (rùn) refers to an intercalary period in a calendar, such as an extra day or month added to align lunar and solar calendars. It is commonly used in the context of the lunar calendar where certain years have an additional month to ensure the seasons remain consistent with specific dates.

When to use 闰

This term is primarily used in formal contexts related to calendars and timekeeping. Learners often confuse it with other time-related terms; remember that 闰 specifically refers to the extra time added, not just any additional time. It’s also important to use the correct tone, as rùn with the fourth tone can mean something entirely different.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 闰 by applying it to any extra time, while it specifically relates to intercalary periods in calendars. For example, saying '这个月有闰' (This month has an extra) is incorrect; instead, specify the context like '今年是闰年' (This year is a leap year).

Write 闰

闰

Practice writing 闰 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 闰

Words Containing This Character3
闰rùnintercalary閏
闰年leap year閏年
闰月leap month閏月
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 闰 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 闰

闰 is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may come up in discussions about calendars, particularly when talking about the lunar calendar.

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