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丸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
丸
wán
ball
HSK 7, zg, 3 strokes, radical 丶, rank #7371, Very Hard
丸
wán
pellet
HSK 7, zg, 3 strokes, radical 丶, rank #7371, Very Hard
丸
wán
pill
HSK 7, zg, 3 strokes, radical 丶, rank #7371, Very Hard
丸
wán
ball, pebble, pellet, pill
HSK 7, zg, 3 strokes, radical 丶, rank #7371, Very Hard
wán(wan2)wan T2
1ball
2pellet
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March 24, 2026
丸wán(wan2)
The character '丸' (wán) refers to a rounded object, such as a ball, pellet, or pill. It is commonly used in contexts related to medicine, food, and even in traditional Chinese medicine where it denotes medicinal pills. The nuance of '丸' suggests something small and spherical.
Strokes3Radical丶Frequency#7371DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
'丸' is often found in traditional Chinese medicine, where herbal remedies are frequently made into pill form. This reflects the importance of holistic health practices in Chinese culture.
Memory tip
Imagine a round pill that you can roll like a ball. The character '丸' resembles a ball that has been rolled on the ground, with the top part being the rounded shape. This visual connection can help you remember that 'wán' means ball or pill.
Meanings of 丸
wán(wan2)
1ball
2pellet
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 丸
丸Simplified
3Strokes
丶Radical
状态词zgnq (stat.)Part of Speech
#7371Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 丸
Podcast: 丸
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AI study notes for 丸
Quick Contrast
药 (yào) — use '丸' when referring specifically to small, rounded medicinal forms, while '药' is a broader term for medicine in general.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse '丸' with similar characters like '完' (wán, meaning complete), as they have different meanings. '丸' is generally used in informal contexts, especially in discussions about food or medicine. Common collocations include '药丸' (yào wán, meaning medicinal pill) and '丸子' (wánzi, meaning meatball).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, '丸' connects with other vocabulary related to medicine and food, such as '药' (yào, medicine) and '球' (qiú, ball). Students should focus on its applications in health contexts and practice forming phrases with it.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use '丸' in contexts that require more formal or specific terminology, such as using it for general objects instead of specifically for pills or balls. For instance, saying '这是一颗丸' (zhè shì yī kē wán) when referring to a piece of fruit would be incorrect; instead, use '这是一颗水果' (zhè shì yī kē shuǐguǒ).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 丸
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Learning Lab
Knowing 丸 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.
The character '丸' (wán) refers to a rounded object, such as a ball, pellet, or pill. It is commonly used in contexts related to medicine, food, and even in traditional Chinese medicine where it denotes medicinal pills. The nuance of '丸' suggests something small and spherical.
When to use 丸
Be cautious not to confuse '丸' with similar characters like '完' (wán, meaning complete), as they have different meanings. '丸' is generally used in informal contexts, especially in discussions about food or medicine. Common collocations include '药丸' (yào wán, meaning medicinal pill) and '丸子' (wánzi, meaning meatball).
丸 or something close to it
药 (yào) — use '丸' when referring specifically to small, rounded medicinal forms, while '药' is a broader term for medicine in general.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use '丸' in contexts that require more formal or specific terminology, such as using it for general objects instead of specifically for pills or balls. For instance, saying '这是一颗丸' (zhè shì yī kē wán) when referring to a piece of fruit would be incorrect; instead, use '这是一颗水果' (zhè shì yī kē shuǐguǒ).
Write 丸
丸
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Grammar patterns of 丸
丸 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
