允 meaning and stroke order
To grant, to consent; just, fair
How to write 允, stroke by stroke
4 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Meaning of 允
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- just
- fair
- to permit
- to allow
How 允 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 儿 (son), shared by 24 characters on this site.
How to remember 允
Picture 厶 (sī, private, oneself) sitting on top of 儿 (ér, legs of a person). A person stands up on their own legs to give their personal approval, which is how 允 (yǔn) comes to mean to consent or allow.
允 is rarely used alone in modern speech. It mostly appears in set words like 允许 (yǔnxǔ, to allow) and 允诺 (yǔnnuò, to promise). Example: 这里不允许吸烟。(Zhèlǐ bù yǔnxǔ xīyān.) Smoking is not allowed here.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 允 with 充 (chōng, to fill), which has an extra 亠 on top. Also remember the tone is third tone yǔn, not second tone yún like 云.
Common words with 允
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 允许 | yǔnxǔ | to permit; to allow | HSK 6 |
| 允诺 | yǔnnuò | to promise; to consent (to do sth) |
允 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 允
Learning 允 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 允
How many strokes are in 允?
允 is written with 4 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 允 mean?
允 (yǔn) means to grant, to consent; just, fair. A common word with it is 允许 (yǔnxǔ), meaning "to permit; to allow".
How do you pronounce 允?
允 is pronounced yǔn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 允?
The radical of 允 is 儿, which carries the idea of "son". Dictionaries list 允 under this radical.
Is 允 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 允 is part of the HSK 6 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 允许 and 可以?
可以 (kěyǐ) is everyday and casual, as in 我可以进来吗 (May I come in). 允许 (yǔnxǔ) sounds more formal and is used for rules, permission from authority, or written notices.
Does 允 still mean fair or just in modern Chinese?
Yes, but mainly in fixed expressions. The common one is 公允 (gōngyǔn), meaning fair and impartial, often used in formal writing about judgments or evaluations.