HSK 5, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 弓, rank #4615, Medium
弯
wān
a turn (in the road etc)
HSK 5, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 弓, rank #4615, Medium
wān(wan1) T1
1bend
2bent
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March 24, 2026
弯(彎)wān(wan1)
The character 弯 (wān) means to bend or curve. It is commonly used to describe physical shapes, such as a bend in a road or a curved object, as well as metaphorically to refer to bending rules or expectations. This character captures the essence of a change in direction or form.
Strokes9Radical弓Frequency#4615DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of bending is often associated with flexibility and adaptability, reflecting the philosophical ideas found in Daoism about the importance of yielding and going with the flow, much like water.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person trying to walk straight but suddenly needing to bend at the waist to avoid an obstacle. The character 弯 resembles a person bending forward, with the left side representing the torso and the right side suggesting a leg. The pronunciation 'wān' can sound like 'wand' which you might use to cast a spell to change direction.
Meanings of 弯
wān(wan1)
1bend
2bent
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 弯
弯Simplified
彎Traditional
9Strokes
弓Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#4615Frequency Rank
道Measure Word
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 弯
Podcast: 弯
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AI Study Notes for 弯
Quick Contrast
弯 (wān) vs 曲 (qū) — use 弯 for physical bends or curves, while 曲 often refers to musical or abstract curves.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person trying to walk straight but suddenly needing to bend at the waist to avoid an obstacle. The character 弯 resembles a person bending forward, with the left side representing the torso and the right side suggesting a leg. The pronunciation 'wān' can sound like 'wand' which you might use to cast a spell to change direction.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context in which 弯 is used, as it can imply both literal and figurative bending. It is more informal and is often used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include '弯路' (bent road) and '弯腰' (bend down).
HSK Study Tips
Although 弯 is not a specific HSK level word, it connects well with HSK 2 vocabulary related to directions and movement. Students should focus on its various uses in context to enhance their understanding of spatial descriptions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of bending is often associated with flexibility and adaptability, reflecting the philosophical ideas found in Daoism about the importance of yielding and going with the flow, much like water.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 弯 with 直 (zhí), meaning straight, leading to sentences like '这条路是弯' when they mean to say '这条路是直'. Instead, remember to use 弯 when describing something that is not straight.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 弯
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Grammar Patterns of 弯
弯 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
为了防止有人跟踪我，我特地绕了____路。
In case anyone was following me, I made an elaborate detour.
Common Confusions with 弯
弯vs环
huán
Both characters can indicate circular shapes but have different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "bend"?
or
Example Sentences for 弯 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
为了防止有人跟踪我，我特地绕了弯路。
wéi le fáng zhǐ yǒu rén gēn zōng wǒ， ， wǒ tè dì rào le wān。
In case anyone was following me, I made an elaborate detour.
2
厨师的薄唇一弯，露出一丝不易察觉的微笑。
chú shī de báo chún yī wān， ， lòu chū yī sī bù yì chá jué de wēi。
A small, unobtrusive smile curved the cook's thin lips.
3
拐过斜弯时他竭力将自行车把稳。
guǎi guò xié wān shí tā jié lì jiāng zì háng chē bǎ wěn。
He struggled to hold the bike down on the banked corners.
The parson, heading the procession, had just turned right towards the churchyard.
9
她整个身体开始弯曲，搞得梯子倾侧起来。
tā zhěng gè shēn tǐ kāi shǐ wān qū， ， gǎo dé tī zǐ qīng cè qǐ。
Her whole body began to buckle, unbalancing the ladder.
10
接着她弯下身子，让他好好看清楚她的文身。
jiē zháo tā wān xià shēn zǐ， ， ràng tā hǎo hǎo kàn qīng chǔ tā de wén。
Then she bent over and gave him an eyeful of her tattoos.
Cultural Notes for 弯
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of bending is often associated with flexibility and adaptability, reflecting the philosophical ideas found in Daoism about the importance of yielding and going with the flow, much like water.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In contrast to Western cultures that often emphasize rigidity and straightness as positive traits, Chinese culture values flexibility and adaptability, as represented by the concept of bending.
Word Family of 弯
Compounds2
湾wan1bay
塆
Words Containing This Character20
弯wānbent彎
转弯zhuǎnwānto turn轉彎
弯曲wānqūto bend彎曲
弯腰to stoop彎腰
拐弯guǎiwānto go round a curve拐彎
拐弯抹角to equivocate拐彎抹角
急转弯jízhuǎnwānto make a sudden turn急轉彎
弯路winding road彎路
臂弯crook of the arm臂彎
弯弯Wan Wan (1981-), Taiwanese blogger and cartoonist彎彎
弯道winding road彎道
走弯路zǒuwānlùto take an indirect route走彎路
遛弯to go for a stroll遛彎
弯弯曲曲curved彎彎曲曲
绕弯子lit. to go on a long detour繞彎子
弯子bend彎子
转弯抹角to equivocate轉彎抹角
遛弯儿to go for a stroll遛彎兒
绕弯to go for a walk around繞彎
曲里拐弯winding and turning (idiom)曲裡拐彎
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 湾 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 弯
You can say '这条路弯得很厉害' which means 'This road bends quite a lot.'
No, 弯 can also refer to bending rules or expectations metaphorically.
Common phrases include '弯腰' (to bend down) and '弯曲' (to curve).
