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鬟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鬟huánto dress the hair in a coiled knot; maidg, 23 strokes, radical 髟
鬟huána knot of hair on top of headunknown, 23 strokes, radical 髟
huán(huan2) T2
  1. 1to dress the hair in a coiled knot; maid
  2. 2a knot of hair on top of head
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鬟huán(huan2)

The character 鬟 (huán) refers to a specific hairstyle where hair is styled into a coiled knot, often seen in traditional Chinese culture. This hairstyle is commonly associated with maidens and women in historical contexts, symbolizing grace and femininity. It can also denote the act of dressing hair intricately.

Strokes23Radical髟
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, hairstyles like 鬟 were not just fashion statements; they often indicated a person's marital status and social class. For example, unmarried women typically wore their hair in specific styles that reflected their youth and availability.

Memory Tip

Imagine a graceful maiden named Huán who wears her hair in an elaborate coiled knot. The character 鬟 resembles a woman with a bun on top of her head, and the pronunciation 'huán' sounds like 'wand' which can remind you of a magical hairstyle.

Meanings of 鬟

huán(huan2)
1to dress the hair in a coiled knot; maid
2a knot of hair on top of head
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鬟

鬟Simplified
23Strokes
髟Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鬟

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Podcast: 鬟

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AI Study Notes for 鬟

Usage Notes

This term is quite formal and typically used in historical or literary contexts. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar sounding words or using it in modern contexts where simpler terms for hairstyles are more appropriate. Remember that 鬟 is not commonly used in everyday conversation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鬟 is not included in the HSK levels, learners can connect it to other vocabulary related to hair and beauty, such as 发 (fà) for hair. Focus on understanding the cultural significance of hairstyles in various contexts to deepen your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 鬟 in casual conversations about hairstyles, when simpler terms like 发型 (fàxíng) are more appropriate. Additionally, some confuse it with similar characters that have different meanings, such as 髻 (jì), which refers specifically to a bun.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鬟

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Etymology of 鬟

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A round 睘 topknot 髟; 睘 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鬟

  1. 1The giveawayA round 睘 topknot 髟; 睘 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 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 鬟? 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 鬟?

Decomposition of 鬟

IDS Structure⿱髟睘
鬟Full Character
=
髟biao1
top
睘qiong2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鬟?

How to say to dress the hair in a coiled knot; maid in Chinese

“to dress the hair in a coiled knot; maid” in Chinese is鬟huán

The character 鬟 (huán) refers to a specific hairstyle where hair is styled into a coiled knot, often seen in traditional Chinese culture. This hairstyle is commonly associated with maidens and women in historical contexts, symbolizing grace and femininity. It can also denote the act of dressing hair intricately.

When to use 鬟

This term is quite formal and typically used in historical or literary contexts. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar sounding words or using it in modern contexts where simpler terms for hairstyles are more appropriate. Remember that 鬟 is not commonly used in everyday conversation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 鬟 in casual conversations about hairstyles, when simpler terms like 发型 (fàxíng) are more appropriate. Additionally, some confuse it with similar characters that have different meanings, such as 髻 (jì), which refers specifically to a bun.

Write 鬟

鬟

Practice writing 鬟 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 鬟

Words Containing This Character2
丫鬟maid
鬟huána knot of hair on top of head
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 丫鬟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鬟

While 鬟 refers to a specific hairstyle, it is rarely used in modern language. Most people today would use simpler terms for hair styling.

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