攬 meaning and stroke order
To grasp; to monopolize; to seize
How to write 攬, stroke by stroke
24 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 攬
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to monopolize; to seize
- to take into one's arms; to embrace
- to fasten (with a rope etc)
- to take on (responsibility etc); to canvass
How 攬 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 覽 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 攬
攬 is a hand 扌 next to 覽 (lǎn, to look over), which also gives the sound. Picture your eyes scanning everything in view and your hand reaching out to gather it all in.
攬 (simplified 揽) means to gather in, embrace, or take on, and it mostly appears in compounds like 招攬 (zhāolǎn, to attract customers) and 一攬子 (yīlǎnzi, all-inclusive). Example: 他把責任都攬在自己身上。(Tā bǎ zérèn dōu lǎn zài zìjǐ shēnshang.) He took all the responsibility on himself.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 攬 with 覽 (lǎn, to view), which has the same sound but no hand radical. If the meaning is grabbing or taking on, you need 扌. If it is looking, as in 展覽 (zhǎnlǎn, exhibition), there is no hand.
Common words with 攬
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
Questions about 攬
How many strokes are in 攬?
攬 is written with 24 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 攬 mean?
攬 (lǎn) means to grasp; to monopolize; to seize. A common word with it is 招揽 (zhāolǎn), meaning "to attract (customers); to drum up (trade)".
How do you pronounce 攬?
攬 is pronounced lǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 攬?
The radical of 攬 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 攬 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 攬?
攬 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 揽, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What does 大包大攬 mean, and is it positive?
大包大攬 (dàbāo-dàlǎn) means to take complete charge of everything yourself. It can sound neutral or slightly critical, suggesting someone takes on too much and leaves no room for others.
How is 攬 different from 抱 (bào) for hugging?
抱 is the everyday word for hugging or holding in your arms. 攬 in this sense is more literary, as in 攬在懷裡 (lǎn zài huái lǐ, to take into one's arms), and today it is used more for taking on tasks or attracting business.