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March 24, 2026
万(萬)wàn(Wan4)
The character '万' (mò) means 'ten thousand' and is often used to denote a large number or countless things. It can also function as a surname, particularly 'Wan', and is seen in various contexts to suggest abundance or infinity.
Strokes3Radical一Frequency#557DifficultyEasy
Cultural note
The number ten thousand, represented by '万', holds significance in Chinese culture, often symbolizing vastness and prosperity. It's frequently used in idiomatic expressions and blessings.
Memory tip
Imagine a mountain ('山') at the top of a giant number '10' (十) that stretches infinitely into the horizon, representing ten thousand. The character '万' itself looks like a mountain peak, signifying the vastness of 'ten thousand'.
Meanings of 万
wàn(Wan4)
primary
1ten thousand
2a great number
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 万
万Simplified
萬Traditional
3Strokes
一Radical
数词shùcínumeral (num.)Part of Speech
#557Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 万
Podcast: 万
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AI study notes for 万
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context when using '万', as it can refer to large quantities or serve as a surname. Common collocations include expressions of quantity like '万事如意' (wàn shì rú yì), meaning 'may everything go as you wish'.
HSK Study Tips
As part of HSK Level 3, '万' connects with other numerical characters and can help learners understand larger numbers in Chinese. Focus on its usage in phrases regarding quantity and in the context of surnames.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '万' with similar numerical characters. For example, using '万' to mean 'one thousand' (千) is incorrect; ensure you remember that '万' specifically means 'ten thousand'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 万
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The character '万' (mò) means 'ten thousand' and is often used to denote a large number or countless things. It can also function as a surname, particularly 'Wan', and is seen in various contexts to suggest abundance or infinity.
When to use 万
Be mindful of the context when using '万', as it can refer to large quantities or serve as a surname. Common collocations include expressions of quantity like '万事如意' (wàn shì rú yì), meaning 'may everything go as you wish'.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '万' with similar numerical characters. For example, using '万' to mean 'one thousand' (千) is incorrect; ensure you remember that '万' specifically means 'ten thousand'.
Write 万
万
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Grammar patterns of 万
万 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. It carries 4 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.
Don't think it hasn't torn me apart to be away from you.
7
这家航空公司亏损达3,500万美元，而澳航出资帮助其摆脱了困境。
zhè jiā hángkōng gōngsī kuīsǔn dá3,500 wàn měiyuán， ér ào háng chūzī bāngzhù qí bǎituō le kùnjìng。
The airline had losses of $35m and was bailed out by Qantas.
8
我破产了，莉薇，而且我欠了几百万美元的债。
wǒ pòchǎn le， lì wēi， érqiě wǒ qiàn le jǐ bǎi wàn měiyuán de zhài。
I'm broke, Livy, and I owe a couple of million dollars.
9
成千上万家新成立的公司已涌进了计算机市场。
chéngqiānshàngwàn jiā xīn chénglì de gōngsī yǐ chōng jìn le jìsuànjī shìchǎng。
Thousands and thousands of start-up firms have poured into the computer market.
10
往返于伦敦的上班族减少了10万。
wǎngfǎn yú lún dūn de shàngbān zú jiǎnshǎo le10 wàn。
The number of commuters to London has dropped by 100,
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Cultural Notes for 万
💡Did you know?
'万' is often used in Chinese to indicate a large quantity, not just 'ten thousand'. For example, in phrases like '万事如意' (Wàn shì rú yì), it means 'May all your wishes come true.'
📜Proverb
'千里之行，始于足下' (Qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià) translates to 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.' This proverb highlights the importance of starting small, much like how '万' represents a large number built from smaller units.
Word Family of 万
Compounds7
迈màito take a step
厉lìsurname Li
趸dǔnto buy or sell wholesale
劢màito put forth effort, to strive for
疠lìsore, ulcer; plague, pestilence
虿chàiscorpion
杤wàn
Words containing this character20
万wànten thousand萬
万岁wànsuìYour Majesty萬歲
千万qiānwànten million千萬
万分wànfēnvery much萬分
万能wànnéngomnipotent萬能
万物wànwùall living things萬物
万科wànkēVanke, large Chinese real estate company, founded in 1984萬科
上万shàngwànover ten thousand上萬
万一wànyījust in case萬一
成千上万chéngqiānshàngwàninnumerable成千上萬
百万bǎiwànmillion百萬
数万shùwànmany thousand數萬
万事wànshìall things萬事
数百万shùbǎiwànseveral million數百萬
以防万一yǐfángwànyīprepared for any eventualities以防萬一
万恶wàn’èeverything that is evil萬惡
万事如意wànshìrúyìbest wishes萬事如意
万年wànniánWannian county in Shangrao 上饒|上饶, Jiangxi萬年
百万富翁bǎiwànfùwēngmillionaire百萬富翁
千家万户qiānjiāwànhùevery family (idiom)千家萬戶
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 万
What does 迈 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 万
Examples of phrases with 万 include '万事如意' (wàn shì rú yì), which means 'may all your wishes come true.' Another common usage is '万里长征' (wàn lǐ cháng zhēng), meaning 'the Long March of ten thousand miles.'
You can use 万 (wàn) in sentences to express large quantities, for example, '这个城市有十万人' (Zhège chéngshì yǒu shí wàn rén), meaning 'This city has one hundred thousand people.' It's also used in expressions relating to wealth or vastness.
万 (wàn) means 'ten thousand' in Chinese. It is often used to denote a large number or a great quantity. Additionally, it can be a surname in China.
'万' translates to 'ten thousand' and is used to represent large quantities.
Yes, '万' can be a surname, pronounced 'Wan'.
It is commonly used in expressions to denote a great number or abundance.
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