to wrap, to entangle; to involve; to bother, to annoy
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 纟, rank #3144, Hard
chán(chan2) T2
1to wind around
2to wrap round
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March 24, 2026
缠(纏)chán(chan2)
The character 缠 (chán) means to wind or wrap around something, often implying a sense of entanglement or involvement. It can be used in both literal contexts, such as wrapping a rope or cloth, and figurative ones, like being bothered or annoyed by someone or something. The word conveys a sense of complexity and can indicate a feeling of being trapped in a situation.
Strokes13Radical纟Frequency#3144DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of being 'wrapped' or 'entangled' can often relate to interpersonal relationships, where people may feel 'tangled' in social obligations or familial duties, reflecting the importance of connection in Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a snake (the radical '纟' suggests silk or thread) winding around a tree trunk. The snake, representing the action of 'winding', gives you a visual connection to the sound 'chán'. Picture the snake getting tangled as it wraps around, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 缠
chán(chan2)
1to wind around
2to wrap round
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 缠
缠Simplified
纏Traditional
13Strokes
纟Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3144Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 缠
Podcast: 缠
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AI Study Notes for 缠
Quick Contrast
缠 (chán) vs 绑 (bǎng) — use 缠 for a sense of entanglement or complexity, while 绑 focuses on the act of tying securely.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a snake (the radical '纟' suggests silk or thread) winding around a tree trunk. The snake, representing the action of 'winding', gives you a visual connection to the sound 'chán'. Picture the snake getting tangled as it wraps around, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 缠 with other similar-sounding words like 缠绕 (chánrào), which specifically means 'to wind around' or 'to coil'. This word is more informal and often used in conversational contexts, so be mindful of the situation when using it. Pay attention to tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning significantly.
HSK Study Tips
While 缠 is not specifically included in the HSK levels, it connects well with other vocabulary related to actions and states of being. Students should focus on understanding its various contexts and practice using it in sentences to enhance their fluency.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of being 'wrapped' or 'entangled' can often relate to interpersonal relationships, where people may feel 'tangled' in social obligations or familial duties, reflecting the importance of connection in Chinese society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 缠 with 缠绕 (chánrào), mistakenly using it when they mean to say 'wrap around' instead of 'tangle' or 'bother'. For example, saying '我缠绕你' (Wǒ chánrào nǐ) instead of '我缠着你' (Wǒ chánzhe nǐ) can lead to confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 缠
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Grammar Patterns of 缠
缠 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 8 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.
This case was bound to get entangled in international politics.
8
他被撞见拼命想要解开几盘缠在一起的胶卷。
tā bèi zhuàng jiàn pīn mìng xiǎng yào jiě kāi jī pán chán zài yī qǐ de jiāo juàn。
He was found desperately trying to untangle several reels of film.
9
他的头上缠满了一层层用床单撕成的绷带。
tā de tóu shàng chán mǎn le yī céng céng yòng chuáng dān sī chéng de bēng dài。
His head was swathed in bandages made from a torn sheet.
10
一些东西缠在了发动机下面的机件上。
yī xiē dōng xī chán zài le fā dòng jī xià miàn de jī jiàn shàng。
Some objects had got entangled with the underneath mechanism of the engine.
Cultural Notes for 缠
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of being 'wrapped' or 'entangled' can often relate to interpersonal relationships, where people may feel 'tangled' in social obligations or familial duties, reflecting the importance of connection in Chinese society.
Word Family of 缠
Words Containing This Character20
缠chánto coil纏
纠缠jiūchánto nag糾纏
缠绕chánràotwisting纏繞
缠绵touching (emotions)纏綿
缠身to preoccupy sb纏身
难缠demanding難纏
纠缠不清hopelessly muddled糾纏不清
腰缠万贯loaded腰纏萬貫
胡搅蛮缠to pester endlessly (idiom)胡攪蠻纏
盘缠to twine盤纏
缠绵悱恻very sentimental纏綿悱惻
缠足foot-binding纏足
蛮缠to pester蠻纏
牵缠to involve牽纏
胡缠to pester胡纏
缠扰to harass纏擾
缠手troublesome纏手
缠夹不清to muddle things together (idiom)纏夾不清
缠夹to annoy纏夾
厮缠to tangle with廝纏
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 缠 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 缠
Related words include 缠绕 (chánrào), which means to wrap around, and 干扰 (gānrǎo), which means to interfere or disturb, emphasizing the aspect of being bothered.
It's mostly used in informal contexts; for formal writing, consider using more specific terms like 包裹 (bāoguǒ) for wrapping.
You can use it like this: '这条绳子缠在树上了' (Zhè tiáo shéngzi chán zài shù shàng le), meaning 'This rope is tangled around the tree.'
