緣 meaning and stroke order
Reason, cause; fate; margin, hem
How to write 緣, stroke by stroke
15 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 緣
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- cause
- reason
- karma
- fate
- predestined affinity
- margin
How 緣 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Thread.
糹 gives the meaning and 彖 hints at the sound.
Radical: 糹 (silk), shared by 126 characters on this site.
How to remember 緣
緣 is built from 糹 (silk thread) on the left, which gives the meaning, and 彖 (tuàn) on the right, which hints at the sound. Picture the thread that runs along the hem of a cloth, and the invisible thread of fate that ties people together.
緣 is mostly used in compound words, both for the literal edge of something, as in 边缘 (biānyuán), and for fate or a reason, as in 缘分 (yuánfèn) and 缘故 (yuángù). Example: 我们很有缘分。(Wǒmen hěn yǒu yuánfèn.) We were really meant to meet.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 緣 with 綠 (lǜ, green), since both have the silk radical and a similar right side. Check the right part: 緣 uses 彖, while 綠 uses 录.
Common words with 緣
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 邊緣 | biānyuán | edge; fringe; verge; brink; periphery; marginal; borderline | HSK 6 |
| 緣故 | yuángù | reason; cause | HSK 6 |
| 緣分 | yuánfèn | fate or chance that brings people together; predestined affinity or relationship | HSK 7-9 |
| 無緣 | wúyuán | to have no opportunity; no way (of doing sth) | HSK 7-9 |
| 血緣 | xuèyuán | bloodline | HSK 7-9 |
| 絕緣 | juéyuán | to have no contact with; to be cut off from | HSK 7-9 |
| 人緣兒 | rényuánr | erhua form of 人緣|人缘[ren2 yuan2] | HSK 7-9 |
| 無緣無故 | wúyuánwúgù | (idiom) no cause or reason; completely uncalled for | |
| 有緣 | yǒuyuán | related; brought together by fate | |
| 血緣關係 | xuèyuánguānxì | blood relationship; consanguinity | |
| 緣由 | yuányóu | reason; cause | |
| 姻緣 | yīnyuán | a marriage predestined by fate |
Questions about 緣
How many strokes are in 緣?
緣 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 緣 mean?
緣 (yuán) means reason, cause; fate; margin, hem. A common word with it is 边缘 (biānyuán), meaning "edge; fringe; verge; brink; periphery; marginal; borderline".
How do you pronounce 緣?
緣 is pronounced yuán, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 緣?
The radical of 緣 is 糹, which carries the idea of "silk". Dictionaries list 緣 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 緣?
緣 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 缘, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 缘分 and 命运?
缘分 (yuánfèn) is the fated chance that brings people together, often used for friendships and romance. 命运 (mìngyùn) means a person's destiny or fortune in life overall.
What does 有人缘 mean?
有人缘 (yǒu rényuán) means someone is well liked and gets along easily with others. In northern speech you will also hear the erhua form 人缘儿 (rényuánr).