Meaning of 环
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- ring
- hoop
- loop
- (chain) link
- classifier for scores in archery etc
- to surround
- to encircle
- to hem in
- surname Huan
How to use 环
On its own 环 means a ring or link, but it appears most often in compounds like 环境 (huánjìng, environment) and 环保 (huánbǎo, environmental protection). It also works as a verb meaning to surround, as in 环绕 (huánrào). Example: 我们要保护环境。(Wǒmen yào bǎohù huánjìng.) We need to protect the environment.
环 combines 王 (the jade radical, written like 王 on the left) with 不 (bù). Picture a round piece of jade with a hole in the middle, a jade ring you wear, and you have the idea of a ring or loop.
Common mistake: Learners often write the right side as 不 but forget that the left side is the jade radical, which looks like 王 with a slanted bottom stroke. Also keep the second tone in huán; it is easy to say it flat like huān 欢 (happy), which looks similar but has 又 on the left.
环 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.
环 huán · ring · 8 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 环.
| 环境 | huánjìng | environment; circumstances |
| 环保 | huánbǎo | environmental protection; environmentally friendly |
| 环节 | huánjié | (zoology) segment (of the body of a worm, centipede etc); (fig.) a part of an integrated w |
| 循环 | xúnhuán | to cycle; to circulate |
| 环球 | huánqiú | around the world; worldwide |
| 环绕 | huánrào | to surround; to circle |
| 光环 | guānghuán | ring of light; halo; (fig.) glory; splendor |
| 连环 | liánhuán | chain of rings; (attributive) linked; successive; serial |
| 耳环 | ěrhuán | earring |
| 环顾四周 | huángùsìzhōu | to look around |
| 花环 | huāhuán | garland; floral hoop |
| 指环 | zhǐhuán | (finger) ring |
Questions about 环
What does 环 mean?
环 (huán) means "ring; hoop" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 环?
环 is made of 1 character: 环 (8 strokes). That is 8 strokes in total.
Is 环 an HSK word?
Yes. 环 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 环 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 环 is written 環.
What is the difference between 环 and 圈 (quān)?
Both can mean a circle or ring. 圈 is more everyday and spoken, as in 画一个圈 (draw a circle) or 跑三圈 (run three laps). 环 sounds more formal and is often used for objects like rings and links or in compounds like 耳环 (ěrhuán, earring).
How is 环 used as a measure word?
In archery and shooting, 环 counts the rings scored on a target. For example, 他打了十环 (tā dǎ le shí huán) means he scored a ten, hitting the bullseye.