惋 meaning and stroke order
To regret, to be sorry
How to write 惋, stroke by stroke
11 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 惋
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to sigh in regret or pity
- Taiwan pr. [wan4]
How 惋 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Heart.
忄 gives the meaning and 宛 hints at the sound.
Radical: 忄 (heart), shared by 167 characters on this site.
How to remember 惋
惋 is pictophonetic: the heart radical 忄 on the left gives the meaning of feeling, and 宛 (wǎn) on the right gives the sound. Picture a heart sighing "wǎn" when something good is lost.
惋 almost never appears alone. It lives in the word 惋惜 (wǎnxī), meaning to feel it is a pity, often about lost chances, wasted talent, or someone's misfortune. Example: 他没能参加比赛，大家都很惋惜。(Tā méi néng cānjiā bǐsài, dàjiā dōu hěn wǎnxī.) Everyone felt it was a pity he could not join the competition.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 惋 with 婉 (wǎn, gentle, tactful) and 碗 (wǎn, bowl), which share the same right side 宛. Remember that only 惋 has the heart radical 忄, because it is about a feeling of regret.
Common words with 惋
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 惋惜 | wǎnxī | to regret; to feel that it is a great pity | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 惋
How many strokes are in 惋?
惋 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 惋 mean?
惋 (wǎn) means to regret, to be sorry. A common word with it is 惋惜 (wǎnxī), meaning "to regret; to feel that it is a great pity".
How do you pronounce 惋?
惋 is pronounced wǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 惋?
The radical of 惋 is 忄, which carries the idea of "heart". Dictionaries list 惋 under this radical.
Is 惋 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 惋 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 惋惜 and 后悔?
后悔 (hòuhuǐ) means you regret something you yourself did. 惋惜 means you feel sorry or pity about a situation, often one involving other people or bad luck, not your own choice.
Is 惋 pronounced wǎn or wàn?
In mainland Standard Mandarin it is third tone, wǎn. In Taiwan it is commonly pronounced with fourth tone, wàn.