紈 meaning and stroke order
Gauze; fine white silk
How to write 紈, stroke by stroke
9 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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- 9
Meaning of 紈
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (literary) fine white silk; delicate silk fabric
How 紈 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Silk.
糹 gives the meaning and 丸 hints at the sound.
Radical: 糹 (silk), shared by 126 characters on this site.
How to remember 紈
The silk radical 糹 on the left tells you the meaning is silk, and 丸 (wán, small ball) on the right gives the sound. Picture fine white silk rolled into a small ball.
紈 is a literary character and is rarely used alone today. It mostly appears in the idiom 纨绔子弟, which describes spoiled rich kids who once wore fine silk trousers. Example: 他是个纨绔子弟。(Tā shì ge wánkùzǐdì.) He is a spoiled son of a rich family.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse the right side 丸 (wán) with 九 (jiǔ, nine). 丸 has an extra dot stroke. Also keep the second tone in wán. Do not read it as wàn.
Common words with 紈
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 紈絝子弟 | wánkùzǐdì | (idiom) hedonistic son of rich parents |
Questions about 紈
How many strokes are in 紈?
紈 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 紈 mean?
紈 (wán) means gauze; fine white silk. A common word with it is 纨绔子弟 (wánkùzǐdì), meaning "(idiom) hedonistic son of rich parents".
How do you pronounce 紈?
紈 is pronounced wán, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 紈?
The radical of 紈 is 糹, which carries the idea of "silk". Dictionaries list 紈 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 紈?
紈 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 纨, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What does 绔 mean in 纨绔子弟?
绔 (kù) is an old word for trousers, related to 裤 (kù). Together, 纨绔 means silk trousers, a symbol of wealthy and idle young men.
Is 纨绔子弟 a compliment or an insult?
It is critical. It describes someone from a rich family who lives for pleasure and does no real work, so it is not a polite way to describe someone.