宛 meaning and stroke order
To seem; as if; crooked
How to write 宛, stroke by stroke
8 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
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Meaning of 宛
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- winding
- as if
How 宛 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Roof.
宀 gives the meaning and 夗 hints at the sound.
Radical: 宀 (roof), shared by 67 characters on this site.
How to remember 宛
宛 has the roof 宀 on top and 夗 (yuàn) below, which gives the sound. Picture someone curled up and winding under a roof, so it seems as if they are hiding, which links to the senses winding and as if.
In modern Chinese 宛 mostly appears in written or literary words, especially 宛如 (wǎnrú) meaning just like. Example: 她的笑容宛如阳光。(Tā de xiàoróng wǎnrú yángguāng.) Her smile is just like sunshine.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 宛 with 碗 (wǎn, bowl) and 婉 (wǎn, gentle), since all three share the same sound and the 宛 part. Remember that 宛 alone has no extra radical, while 碗 adds 石 and 婉 adds 女.
Common words with 宛
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 宛如 | wǎnrú | to be just like |
Characters that contain 宛
Learning 宛 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 宛
How many strokes are in 宛?
宛 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 宛 mean?
宛 (wǎn) means to seem; as if; crooked. A common word with it is 宛如 (wǎnrú), meaning "to be just like".
How do you pronounce 宛?
宛 is pronounced wǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 宛?
The radical of 宛 is 宀, which carries the idea of "roof". Dictionaries list 宛 under this radical.
What is the difference between 宛如 and 好像?
Both mean as if or just like. 好像 (hǎoxiàng) is everyday spoken Chinese, while 宛如 sounds literary and is used in writing, poetry, and formal descriptions.
Is 宛 used in other common expressions?
Yes. 宛然 (wǎnrán) also means as if and is written style. The idiom 宛转 (wǎnzhuǎn) means winding or tactful, which connects to the crooked sense.