阎 meaning and stroke order
Village gate; surname
How to write 阎, 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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- 11
Meaning of 阎
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (literary) the gate of a lane
How 阎 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Gate.
门 gives the meaning and 臽 hints at the sound.
Radical: 门 (gate), shared by 47 characters on this site.
How to remember 阎
The outer part 门 (mén, gate) gives the meaning, and 臽 inside hints at the sound. Picture a small gate at the entrance of a village lane, with something tucked inside the doorway.
Today 阎 (yán) is mostly seen as a surname and in the word 阎王 (Yánwang), the King of Hell. The 'lane gate' meaning is literary and rare. Example: 他姓阎。(Tā xìng Yán.) His surname is Yan.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 阎 with 闫 (yán), another surname that looks simpler and shares the same sound. They are written differently and are treated as separate family names on official documents. Also, the inside part 臽 is not 旧 or 臼, so check that small stroke on top.
Common words with 阎
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 阎王 | Yánwang | (Buddhism) Yama, the King of Hell; (fig.) cruel and tyrannical person | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 阎
How many strokes are in 阎?
阎 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 阎 mean?
阎 (yán) means village gate; surname. A common word with it is 阎王 (Yánwang), meaning "(Buddhism) Yama, the King of Hell; (fig.) cruel and tyrannical person".
How do you pronounce 阎?
阎 is pronounced yán, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 阎?
The radical of 阎 is 门, which carries the idea of "gate". Dictionaries list 阎 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 阎?
The traditional form of 阎 is 閻. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 阎 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 阎 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 阎 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 阎王 mean in everyday speech?
Literally it is Yama, the ruler of the underworld in Buddhist belief. People also use it for a harsh, frightening person, like a strict boss. The saying 阎王好见，小鬼难缠 means the big boss is easy to deal with but his underlings cause trouble.
Is 阎 the same as the surname 闫?
Not officially. 闫 started as a simplified variant, but many families have registered 闫 as their surname, so the two are now treated as different names. Always use the form the person uses.