纨 meaning and stroke order
Gauze; fine white silk
How to write 纨, stroke by stroke
6 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Meaning of 纨
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (literary) fine white silk; delicate silk fabric
How 纨 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Silk.
纟 gives the meaning and 丸 hints at the sound.
Radical: 纟 (silk), shared by 143 characters on this site.
How to remember 纨
纨 (wán) combines the silk radical 纟 with 丸 (wán, pill or small ball), which gives the sound. Picture silk so fine and smooth it could be rolled into a tiny ball.
纨 is a literary character. Today you almost only meet it in the set phrase 纨绔 (wánkù), the fine silk trousers once worn by rich young men. Example: 他是个纨绔子弟。(Tā shì gè wánkù zǐdì.) He is a spoiled son of a rich family.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 纨 with 执 (zhí, to hold), because 丸 and the right side of 执 look alike. They also misread 绔 in 纨绔 as kuà. Remember 纨 has the silk radical 纟 and 绔 is read kù.
Common words with 纨
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 纨绔子弟 | wánkùzǐdì | (idiom) hedonistic son of rich parents |
Questions about 纨
How many strokes are in 纨?
纨 is written with 6 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 纨 mean?
纨 (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 纨?
纨 is pronounced wán, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 纨?
The radical of 纨 is 纟, which carries the idea of "silk". Dictionaries list 纨 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 纨?
The traditional form of 纨 is 紈. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 纨 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 纨绔子弟 an insult?
Yes, it is critical. It describes a young man from a wealthy family who lives for pleasure and does no useful work. It is close to calling someone a spoiled rich kid or playboy.
Can I use 纨 by itself in modern Chinese?
Rarely. On its own it appears mainly in classical texts and poetry, for example 纨扇 (wánshàn), a round silk fan. In everyday speech you will only hear it inside 纨绔 or 纨绔子弟.