Meaning of 弯
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to bend
- bent
- a bend; a turn (in a road etc)
Measure word: 道
How to use 弯
弯 works as an adjective (bent, curved), a verb (to bend), and a noun (a bend or turn). It appears most often in compounds like 转弯 (zhuǎnwān) and 弯腰 (wānyāo). Example: 前面路口向左转弯。(Qiánmiàn lùkǒu xiàng zuǒ zhuǎnwān.) Turn left at the next intersection.
弯 is made of 亦 on top and 弓 (gōng, bow) below. Picture an archer's bow 弓 being pulled until it bends, and you have 弯, bent.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 弯 (wān, bend) with 湾 (wān, bay), which has the water radical 氵 on the left. Use 湾 for bodies of water, as in 台湾 (Táiwān), and 弯 for curves and bending.
弯 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
弯 wān · to bend · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 弯.
| 转弯 | zhuǎnwān | to turn; to go around a corner |
| 弯曲 | wānqū | to bend; to curve around |
| 拐弯 | guǎiwān | to go round a curve; to turn a corner |
| 急转弯 | jízhuǎnwān | to make a sudden turn |
| 走弯路 | zǒu wānlù | to take an indirect route; to waste one's time by using an inappropriate method |
| 弯腰 | wānyāo | to stoop |
| 拐弯抹角 | guǎiwānmòjiǎo | lit. going round the curves and skirting the corners (idiom); fig. to speak in a roundabou |
| 弯道 | wāndào | winding road; road curve |
| 臂弯 | bìwān | crook of the arm |
Questions about 弯
What does 弯 mean?
弯 (wān) means "to bend; bent" and is used as a adjective and verb.
How do you write 弯?
弯 is made of 1 character: 弯 (9 strokes). That is 9 strokes in total.
Is 弯 an HSK word?
Yes. 弯 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 弯 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 弯 is written 彎.
What is the difference between 转弯 and 拐弯?
Both mean to turn a corner and are often interchangeable. 拐弯 (guǎiwān) sounds a bit more colloquial and is common in northern speech, while 转弯 (zhuǎnwān) is slightly more neutral and common in written directions.
Does 走弯路 only mean taking a longer route?
No. 走弯路 (zǒu wānlù) can literally mean taking an indirect route, but it is often used figuratively to mean wasting time with a poor method. For example, 少走弯路 (shǎo zǒu wānlù) means to avoid unnecessary detours or mistakes.