HSK 3, zg, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #493, Medium
员
yuán
employee
HSK 3, zg, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #493, Medium
员
yuán
member
HSK 3, zg, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #493, Medium
员
yuán
employee; member; personnel, staff
HSK 3, zg, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #493, Medium
yuán(yuan2)yuan T2
1person
2employee
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March 24, 2026
员(員)yuán(yuan2)
The character 员 (yuán) refers to a person or member of a group, often used in contexts like staff or personnel. It is commonly found in job titles or organizational contexts, indicating someone who holds a specific role or position within an entity.
Strokes7Radical口Frequency#493DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese society, the concept of being a member of a group, such as in a workplace or social organization, holds significant importance. The character reflects the collectivist culture, where individuals often identify strongly with their roles in a team.
Memory Tip
Imagine a group of people (the components of the character) standing together, each representing a member of a team. The '员' looks like a person holding a sign that says 'I am a member!' This visual helps you remember that it means 'member' or 'employee.'
Meanings of 员
yuán(yuan2)
1person
2employee
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 员
员Simplified
員Traditional
7Strokes
口Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#493Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3TOCFLL3BCT✓
Podcast: 员
Podcast: 员
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AI Study Notes for 员
Quick Contrast
职员 (zhíyuán) vs 员工 (yuángōng) — use 员 when referring to a general member of a group, while 职员 emphasizes a formal position or role, and 员工 specifically refers to an employee.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 员 (yuán) with similar characters that denote roles or professions. It is generally used in a neutral or formal context, and it often pairs with other characters, such as '员工' (yángōng), meaning 'employee.' Avoid using it in overly casual conversations.
HSK Study Tips
While '员' is not specifically listed in HSK, it is often encountered in HSK Level 3 contexts when discussing professions or roles. Focus on its use in job-related vocabulary to strengthen your understanding of workplace terminology.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 员 (yuán) when referring to a specific role without the appropriate context, for instance saying '他是老师员' instead of '他是老师' (He is a teacher). Make sure to use it with contexts like '员工' for clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 员
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How Well Do You Know 员?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 员 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.
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Simplified form of 員. Depicts the round opening (口) of a cooking pot (鼎). Based on the original meaning "round", now written as 圓. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
The character 员 (yuán) refers to a person or member of a group, often used in contexts like staff or personnel. It is commonly found in job titles or organizational contexts, indicating someone who holds a specific role or position within an entity.
When to use 员
Be cautious not to confuse 员 (yuán) with similar characters that denote roles or professions. It is generally used in a neutral or formal context, and it often pairs with other characters, such as '员工' (yángōng), meaning 'employee.' Avoid using it in overly casual conversations.
员 or something close to it
职员 (zhíyuán) vs 员工 (yuángōng) — use 员 when referring to a general member of a group, while 职员 emphasizes a formal position or role, and 员工 specifically refers to an employee.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 员 (yuán) when referring to a specific role without the appropriate context, for instance saying '他是老师员' instead of '他是老师' (He is a teacher). Make sure to use it with contexts like '员工' for clarity.
Write 员
员
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Practice writing 员 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 员
员 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
