冉

冄
rǎn

Definitions

rǎn variant of 冉[rǎn]
rǎn surname Ran
rǎn edge of a tortoiseshell; used in 冉冉[rǎn rǎn]

Etymology

Depicts two strands of hair drooping.

About

The character 冉 originated as a pictograph, its early forms clearly depicting two strands of hair drooping downward. As a purely pictographic character, it does not divide into semantic and phonetic components like most later Chinese characters, but functions as a unified whole. Over time, the literal connection to hair faded, and the character came to express abstract concepts of slow, gradual progression. In modern Chinese, it appears primarily in the reduplicated adverb 冉冉, describing a slow, continuous process such as the sun rising gradually or time passing gently; it also serves as a surname.

Example Sentences Hide

太阳冉冉升起。

Tài yáng rǎn rǎn shēng qǐ.

The sun rises slowly.

冉冉今天来上学。

Rǎn rǎn jīn tiān lái shàng xué.

Ran Ran comes to school today.

冉老师教我们数学。

Rǎn lǎo shī jiāo wǒ men shù xué.

Teacher Ran teaches us mathematics.

国旗在冉冉上升。

Guó qí zài rǎn rǎn shàng shēng.

The national flag is rising slowly.

炊烟冉冉地飘向天空。

Chuī yān rǎn rǎn de piāo xiàng tiān kōng.

The smoke floats slowly towards the sky.

每当看到太阳冉冉升起，我就感到充满希望。

Měi dāng kàn dào tài yáng rǎn rǎn shēng qǐ, wǒ jiù gǎn dào chōng mǎn xī wàng.

Whenever I see the sun rising slowly, I feel full of hope.

冉冉的歌声缓缓地飘荡在夜晚的空气中。

Rǎn rǎn de gē shēng huǎn huǎn de piāo dàng zài yè wǎn de kōng qì zhōng.

Ran Ran's singing voice slowly floats in the night air.

在清晨的薄雾中，太阳冉冉升起，照亮了整个大地。

Zài qīng chén de bó wù zhōng, tài yáng rǎn rǎn shēng qǐ, zhào liàng le zhěng gè dà dì.

In the morning mist, the sun rises slowly, illuminating the entire land.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

再 髯 聃 苒 蚺 䎃 冓 寗 柟 爯 珃

Component: 冉

再 髯 聃 苒 蚺 䎃 冓 寗 柟 爯 珃

Example Words

冉冉