旋 meaning and stroke order
To revolve, to orbit, to return
How to write 旋, 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 旋
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to revolve
- a loop
- a circle
- to whirl
- immediately
- variant of 鏇|镟[xuan4]
How 旋 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. An army 方 marching under a flag 疋.
Radical: 方 (square), shared by 17 characters on this site.
How to remember 旋
The left side looks like 方 (fāng), and the hint describes an army marching under a flag, with 疋 as the marching feet. Picture soldiers circling around their flag and then marching home, which gives you both 'to revolve' and 'to return'.
旋 (xuán) mostly appears in two-character words like 旋转 (xuánzhuǎn, to rotate), 旋律 (xuánlǜ, melody) and 凯旋 (kǎixuán, to return in triumph). Example: 地球绕着太阳旋转。(Dìqiú ràozhe tàiyáng xuánzhuǎn.) The Earth revolves around the sun.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 旋 with 族 (zú, clan) and 旅 (lǚ, travel), which share the same 方 plus flag shape on the left. Look at the bottom right: 旋 ends in 疋, 族 has 矢, and 旅 has a different stroke pattern.
Common words with 旋
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 旋转 | xuánzhuǎn | to rotate; to revolve | HSK 6 |
| 旋律 | xuánlǜ | melody | HSK 7-9 |
| 周旋 | zhōuxuán | to mix with others; to socialize | HSK 7-9 |
| 旋涡 | xuánwō | spiral; whirlpool | HSK 7-9 |
| 凯旋 | kǎixuán | to return in triumph; to return victorious | |
| 螺旋 | luóxuán | spiral; helix | |
| 旋风 | xuànfēng | whirlwind; tornado | |
| 盘旋 | pánxuán | to spiral; to circle | |
| 螺旋桨 | luóxuánjiǎng | propeller | |
| 回旋 | huíxuán | to circle; to wheel; to go around |
旋 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 旋
Learning 旋 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 旋
How many strokes are in 旋?
旋 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 旋 mean?
旋 (xuán) means to revolve, to orbit, to return. A common word with it is 旋转 (xuánzhuǎn), meaning "to rotate; to revolve".
How do you pronounce 旋?
旋 is pronounced xuán, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 旋?
The radical of 旋 is 方, which carries the idea of "square". Dictionaries list 旋 under this radical.
Is 旋 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 旋 is part of the HSK 6 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
When is 旋 pronounced xuàn instead of xuán?
The fourth tone xuàn is used in a few words, most commonly 旋风 (xuànfēng, whirlwind). It can also mean 'whirling' or 'on the spot', but most everyday words like 旋转 and 旋律 use xuán.
What does 周旋 mean in daily conversation?
周旋 (zhōuxuán) means to socialize or deal tactfully with people, like moving around among guests at a party. It can also mean to maneuver or handle someone carefully, for example 跟客户周旋 (gēn kèhù zhōuxuán), to deal with clients.