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鸾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鸾luánfabulous birdnr, 11 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #47490, Very Hard
鸾luánmythical bird related to phoenixunknown, 11 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #47490, Very Hard
luán(luan2) T2
  1. 1fabulous bird
  2. 2mythical bird related to phoenix
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鸾(鸞)luán(luan2)

The character 鸾 (luán) refers to a mythical bird often associated with beauty and elegance, similar to the phoenix. In Chinese culture, the luán represents auspiciousness and is often depicted in literature and art as a symbol of harmony and marital happiness.

Strokes11Radical鸟Frequency#47490DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese weddings, the image of the 鸾 is often used to symbolize a harmonious union, reflecting its association with marital bliss and prosperity in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a beautiful bird (鸾) soaring above a landscape, its feathers shimmering like gold. The character's shape includes a bird radical (鸟), hinting at its avian nature, while 'luán' sounds like 'land', suggesting the bird's connection to both earth and sky.

Meanings of 鸾

luán(luan2)
1fabulous bird
2mythical bird related to phoenix
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鸾

鸾Simplified
鸞Traditional
11Strokes
鸟Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鸾

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鸾

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AI Study Notes for 鸾

Usage Notes

Learners should avoid confusing 鸾 with similar-sounding characters, such as 'luan' (乱, meaning chaos). It's used primarily in literary or poetic contexts rather than in everyday conversation, so be mindful of the formality of your language when using it.

HSK Study Tips

While 鸾 does not appear in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding this character can enhance your appreciation of Chinese mythology and literature. Focus on the character's components and its poetic uses to deepen your cultural insights.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 鸾 with 乱 (luàn), which means chaos. Remember that 鸾 pertains to the mythical bird, and the context is often more formal or literary.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鸾

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Etymology of 鸾

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

bird

Semantic (meaning)亦
+
Phonetic (sound)鸟
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鸾

  1. 1The meaning half亦 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half鸟 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaybird
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 鸾? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鸾?

Decomposition of 鸾

IDS Structure⿱亦鸟
鸾Full Character
=
亦yi4
top
鸟diao3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鸾?

How to say fabulous bird in Chinese

“fabulous bird” in Chinese is鸾luán

The character 鸾 (luán) refers to a mythical bird often associated with beauty and elegance, similar to the phoenix. In Chinese culture, the luán represents auspiciousness and is often depicted in literature and art as a symbol of harmony and marital happiness.

When to use 鸾

Learners should avoid confusing 鸾 with similar-sounding characters, such as 'luan' (乱, meaning chaos). It's used primarily in literary or poetic contexts rather than in everyday conversation, so be mindful of the formality of your language when using it.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 鸾 with 乱 (luàn), which means chaos. Remember that 鸾 pertains to the mythical bird, and the context is often more formal or literary.

Write 鸾

鸾

Practice writing 鸾 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 鸾

Words Containing This Character3
鸾luánmythical bird related to phoenix鸞
鸾凤luan and phoenix鸞鳳
颠鸾倒凤to have sexual intercourse顛鸞倒鳳
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 鸾 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鸾

鸾 symbolizes beauty, harmony, and marital happiness, often associated with auspicious events.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鸾?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.