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冤枉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
冤枉yuānwangto accuse wronglyHSK 7, v, rank #10832, Hard
冤枉yuānwangto treat unjustlyHSK 7, v, rank #10832, Hard
冤枉yuānwanginjusticeHSK 7, v, rank #10832, Hard
冤枉yuānwangwrongedHSK 7, v, rank #10832, Hard
冤枉yuānwangnot worthwhileHSK 7, v, rank #10832, Hard
yuānwang(yuan1wang5) T1
  1. 1to accuse wrongly
  2. 2to treat unjustly
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March 24, 2026
冤枉yuānwang(yuan1wang5)

The term 冤枉 (yuānwǎng) refers to the act of accusing someone unjustly or treating them unfairly. It conveys a sense of injustice and being wronged. This word is commonly used in contexts where someone feels they have been wrongly accused or treated without fairness, such as in legal or interpersonal situations.

Frequency#10832DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of justice and being wronged is deeply embedded in societal values, often reflected in literature and media. The phrase is frequently seen in discussions about legal rights and social justice movements.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person named Yuan who is wrongfully accused of a crime. The character 冤 (yuān) looks like a person standing in a courtroom, while 枉 (wǎng) can remind you of bending the truth. Picture Yuan fighting against this injustice to help remember the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 冤枉

yuānwang(yuan1wang5)
1to accuse wrongly
2to treat unjustly
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 冤枉

冤枉Simplified
Strokes
Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#10832Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 冤枉

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Podcast: 冤枉

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AI Study Notes for 冤枉

Quick Contrast

冤屈 (yuānqū) - use 冤枉 when emphasizing the act of being wronged by others' accusations, while 冤屈 focuses more on the feeling of grievance or suffering from injustice.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person named Yuan who is wrongfully accused of a crime. The character 冤 (yuān) looks like a person standing in a courtroom, while 枉 (wǎng) can remind you of bending the truth. Picture Yuan fighting against this injustice to help remember the meaning and pronunciation.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 冤枉 with other similar terms. It is more common in informal spoken contexts, but can also be used in formal discussions about justice. Be cautious with the tones; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 冤枉 connects to themes of justice and morality. Students should focus on using this term in sentences that discuss rights and wrongs, and relate it to other legal or emotional vocabulary learned at this level.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of justice and being wronged is deeply embedded in societal values, often reflected in literature and media. The phrase is frequently seen in discussions about legal rights and social justice movements.

Common Mistakes

Students often confuse 冤枉 with 误会 (wùhuì), which means misunderstanding. For example, saying '我冤枉了他' (Wǒ yuānwǎng le tā) instead of '我误会了他' (Wǒ wùhuì le tā) can lead to misunderstandings, as the former implies intentional wrongdoing.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 冤枉

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Component Characters

yuāninjustice
HSK 710 strokes
View full entry
wǎngto twist
8 strokes
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Write 冤枉

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Grammar Patterns of 冤枉

冤枉 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 5 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 3

Complete the Sentence

他受这么多苦,太____了。

It was unfair that he should suffer so much.

Example Sentences for 冤枉 (2)

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1
他受这么多苦,太冤枉了。

tā shòu zhè mó duō kǔ, , tài yuān wǎng。

It was unfair that he should suffer so much.
2
苏小姐骂方鸿 渐 无耻,实在是冤枉.

sū xiǎo jiě mà fāng hóng jiàn, wú chǐ , shí zài.

Miss Su's condemnation of Fang Hung - chien for being shameless was actually unjust.

Cultural Notes for 冤枉

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of justice and being wronged is deeply embedded in societal values, often reflected in literature and media. The phrase is frequently seen in discussions about legal rights and social justice movements.

Frequently Asked Questions about 冤枉

Yes, but it may be better to use a more formal term like '不公正' (bù gōngzhèng) for official documents.