Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
揽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
揽
lǎn
to grasp; to monopolize; to seize
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #13797, Very Hard
揽
lǎn
to take into one's arms
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #13797, Very Hard
揽
lǎn
to embrace
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #13797, Very Hard
揽
lǎn
to fasten (with a rope etc)
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #13797, Very Hard
揽
lǎn
to take on (responsibility etc)
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #13797, Very Hard
揽
lǎn
to canvass
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #13797, Very Hard
lǎn(lan3)lan T3
1to grasp; to monopolize; to seize
2to take into one's arms
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
揽(攬)lǎn(lan3)
The character 揽 (lǎn) primarily means to grasp or seize something, often conveying a sense of taking control or possession. It is used in both physical contexts, such as grasping an object, and abstract contexts like assuming responsibility or monopolizing a situation.
Strokes12Radical扌Frequency#13797DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'grasping' often extends beyond the physical to include taking on duties and responsibilities, reflecting a strong sense of collectivism and accountability. This character can be linked to the idea of leadership and the expectation to embrace responsibilities within a group.
Memory tip
Imagine a strong person (the radical 扌, meaning 'hand') reaching out to grasp a large, colorful lantern (the component 兰) with both hands. This action of embracing the lantern symbolizes the act of 'seizing' or 'taking' something important, helping you remember the pronunciation 'lǎn'.
Meanings of 揽
lǎn(lan3)
1to grasp; to monopolize; to seize
2to take into one's arms
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 揽 means.
About 揽
揽Simplified
攬Traditional
12Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 揽
Podcast: 揽
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 揽
Quick Contrast
揽 (lǎn) vs 抓 (zhuā) — use 揽 when emphasizing control or possession, while 抓 focuses on the action of catching or seizing.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 揽 with similar verbs that have nuanced meanings, such as 抓 (zhuā), which means to catch or grab quickly. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about responsibilities or market competition.
HSK Study Tips
While 揽 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it shares the theme of action verbs with other HSK words. Students at this level should focus on its usage in phrases and contexts related to responsibility and control, as these are commonly encountered in daily conversations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 揽 with 抓, mistakenly using 揽 in contexts where quick actions are needed, like 'grabbing a cup'. For instance, saying 揽杯 (lǎn bēi) instead of 抓杯 (zhuā bēi) would be incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 揽
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 揽, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 揽 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 揽?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 揽 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.
揽 = 扌 + 览. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 揽
IDS Structure⿰扌览
揽Full character
=
扌shou3
left
览lan3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 揽?
How to say to grasp; to monopolize; to seize in Chinese
“to grasp; to monopolize; to seize” in Chinese is揽lǎn
The character 揽 (lǎn) primarily means to grasp or seize something, often conveying a sense of taking control or possession. It is used in both physical contexts, such as grasping an object, and abstract contexts like assuming responsibility or monopolizing a situation.
When to use 揽
Be careful not to confuse 揽 with similar verbs that have nuanced meanings, such as 抓 (zhuā), which means to catch or grab quickly. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about responsibilities or market competition.
揽 or something close to it
揽 (lǎn) vs 抓 (zhuā) — use 揽 when emphasizing control or possession, while 抓 focuses on the action of catching or seizing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 揽 with 抓, mistakenly using 揽 in contexts where quick actions are needed, like 'grabbing a cup'. For instance, saying 揽杯 (lǎn bēi) instead of 抓杯 (zhuā bēi) would be incorrect.
Write 揽
揽
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 揽 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 揽
揽 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 6 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他是少数几个知道招____观众的演员之一。
He is one of the few players who puts bums on seats.
Example sentences for 揽 (6)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他是少数几个知道招揽观众的演员之一。
tā shì shǎoshù jǐ gè zhīdào zhāolǎn guānzhòng de yǎnyuán zhīyī。
He is one of the few players who puts bums on seats.
