HSK 1, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 王, rank #282, Medium
wán(wan2) T2
1toy
2sth used for amusement
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March 24, 2026
玩wán(wan2)
The character 玩 (wán) primarily means 'to play' or 'to have fun.' It is commonly used in contexts involving leisure activities, games, and entertainment. Additionally, it can refer to objects used for amusement, such as toys or antiques, particularly in Taiwanese usage.
Strokes8Radical王Frequency#282DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of play is often associated with leisure activities that involve family and friends, highlighting the importance of community and social interaction. Children’s games can also reflect cultural values and traditions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a child holding a toy in one hand while playing with a ball in the other. The ‘玩’ character has a radical that resembles a person playing, and it sounds like 'wan,' which you can remember as 'one who plays.' Visualize this child fully immersed in fun, embodying the essence of 玩.
Meanings of 玩
wán(wan2)
1toy
2sth used for amusement
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 玩
玩Simplified
8Strokes
王Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#282Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L1TOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 玩
Podcast: 玩
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AI Study Notes for 玩
Quick Contrast
玩 (wán) vs 逗 (dòu) — choose 玩 when referring to playing for enjoyment, while 逗 implies teasing or amusing someone.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a child holding a toy in one hand while playing with a ball in the other. The ‘玩’ character has a radical that resembles a person playing, and it sounds like 'wan,' which you can remember as 'one who plays.' Visualize this child fully immersed in fun, embodying the essence of 玩.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 玩 with other similar verbs like 练 (liàn) meaning 'to practice.' It is generally informal, so it’s best used in casual settings rather than official contexts. Common collocations include 玩游戏 (wán yóuxì, 'to play games') and 玩具 (wánjù, 'toys').
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 玩 connects well with other basic action verbs. Focus on using it in simple sentences to describe activities and gradually incorporate it into conversation about hobbies and entertainment.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of play is often associated with leisure activities that involve family and friends, highlighting the importance of community and social interaction. Children’s games can also reflect cultural values and traditions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 玩 with 玩儿 (wánr), which is a colloquial variant used in some regions. An example mistake is saying '我喜欢玩儿游戏' when it should be '我喜欢玩游戏' for proper usage.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 玩
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Grammar Patterns of 玩
玩 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 9 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.
tā cāo zháo yī kǒu dài yǒu dé guó qiāng de yīng yǔ wèn wǒ zài fǎ guó wán dé shì fǒu yú kuài。
He asked in his Germanic English if I was enjoying France.
10
汤姆承认玩电子游戏有时会使他无心做作业。
tāng mǔ chéng rèn wán diàn zǐ yóu xì yǒu shí huì shǐ tā wú xīn zuò zuò yè。
Tom admits that playing video games sometimes distracts him from his homework.
Cultural Notes for 玩
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of play is often associated with leisure activities that involve family and friends, highlighting the importance of community and social interaction. Children’s games can also reflect cultural values and traditions.
Word Family of 玩
Words Containing This Character20
玩wánto play
玩笑to joke
开玩笑kāiwánxiàoto play a joke開玩笑
玩家player (of a game)
好玩amusing
玩具wánjùtoy
玩意toy
玩儿wánrto play玩兒
玩偶toy figurine
玩耍wánshuǎto amuse oneself
玩弄wánnòngto play with
游玩yóuwánto have fun遊玩
玩意儿wányìrtoy玩意兒
古玩antique
玩忽职守to neglect one's duty玩忽職守
好玩儿hǎowánrinteresting好玩兒
玩牌to play cards
吃喝玩乐chīhēwánlèto eat, drink and be merry (idiom)吃喝玩樂
玩艺toy玩藝
玩火to play with fire
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 玩 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 玩
No, 玩 is primarily informal and should be avoided in formal writing or speech.
Common phrases include 玩游戏 (wán yóuxì, 'to play games') and 玩具 (wánjù, 'toys').
