Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
巒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
巒luánmountain range; tall pointed mountainx, 22 strokes, radical 山
luán(luan2) T2
  1. 1mountain range; tall pointed mountain
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

巒luán(luan2)

The character 巒 (luán) refers to a mountain range or a tall pointed mountain, often evoking imagery of majestic peaks. It is commonly used in literary contexts or when describing natural landscapes, emphasizing the grandeur and beauty of mountainous terrains.

Strokes22Radical山
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, mountains are often seen as symbols of strength and stability. The character 巒 connects to the reverence for nature found in traditional Chinese poetry, where mountains often represent spiritual depth and wisdom.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tall, pointed mountain range that looks like a 'luan' (like a 'lan' of mountains) reaching into the sky. The character 巒 has the radical for water (氵) on the left, suggesting that these mountains may be surrounded by rivers or lakes, enhancing their beauty.

Meanings of 巒

luán(luan2)
1mountain range; tall pointed mountain
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 巒 means.

About 巒

巒Simplified
22Strokes
山Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 巒

JasonAmy

Podcast: 巒

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 巒

Usage Notes

When using 巒, be mindful that it is more formal and often appears in poetic or literary contexts. Avoid using it in everyday conversation about mountains, where 山 (shān) is more appropriate. Be careful with pronunciation; ensure the second tone (luán) is correctly stressed to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

While 巒 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your appreciation of descriptive language in Chinese literature. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in texts about nature and geography to build their vocabulary around mountains and landscapes.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 巒 with 山 (shān) and use it incorrectly in casual contexts, e.g., saying '我喜欢这个巒' instead of '我喜欢这个山' (I like this mountain). Additionally, mispronouncing it as 'lan' instead of 'luán' can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 巒

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 巒 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 巒 to You

Let me explain 巒 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 巒 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 巒?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 巒 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 巒

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

mountain

Semantic (meaning)山
+
Phonetic (sound)䜌
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

巒 = 山 + 䜌. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 巒

IDS Structure⿱䜌山
巒Full Character
=
䜌luan2
top
山Shan1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 巒?

How to say mountain range; tall pointed mountain in Chinese

“mountain range; tall pointed mountain” in Chinese is巒luán

The character 巒 (luán) refers to a mountain range or a tall pointed mountain, often evoking imagery of majestic peaks. It is commonly used in literary contexts or when describing natural landscapes, emphasizing the grandeur and beauty of mountainous terrains.

When to use 巒

When using 巒, be mindful that it is more formal and often appears in poetic or literary contexts. Avoid using it in everyday conversation about mountains, where 山 (shān) is more appropriate. Be careful with pronunciation; ensure the second tone (luán) is correctly stressed to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 巒 with 山 (shān) and use it incorrectly in casual contexts, e.g., saying '我喜欢这个巒' instead of '我喜欢这个山' (I like this mountain). Additionally, mispronouncing it as 'lan' instead of 'luán' can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 巒

巒

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 巒?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Word Family of 巒

Words Containing This Character8
山峦mountain range山巒
峦luánmountain ranges巒
峰峦high mountain range峰巒
层峦叠嶂range upon range of mountains (idiom)層巒疊嶂
重峦叠嶂range upon range of mountains (idiom)重巒疊嶂
层峦range upon range of mountains層巒
山峦重叠overlapping ranges of high mountains (idiom)山巒重疊
翠峦区Cuiluan district of Yichun city 伊春市[Yī​chūn​shì], Heilongjiang翠巒區
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 巒

What does 山峦 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 巒

No, 巒 is more commonly found in literary or formal contexts rather than in daily conversation.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 巒?

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.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab