湾

灣
wān
弯 + 氵

Definitions

wān (noun) bay; gulf
wān (verb) to moor; to anchor

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 弯 represents the sound. Simplified form of 灣.

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 弯

About

The character 湾 is a simplified form of 灣, a phono-semantic compound. The left-side radical 氵 ('water') signals the meaning, and the right-side component 弯 ('curved') provides the sound. The traditional character used 彎, a complex character meaning 'bend' or 'curve', which also hinted at the shape of a bay. In simplifying to 湾, the phonetic was reduced to 弯, preserving the same sound and semantic link while greatly simplifying the character. The word originally referred to a bend in a waterway or a coastal inlet where ships could anchor.

Example Sentences Hide

这个海湾很漂亮。

Zhège hǎiwān hěn piàoliang.

This bay is very beautiful.

我们计划去台湾旅行。

Wǒmen jìhuà qù Táiwān lǚxíng.

We plan to travel to Taiwan.

船缓缓驶入了宁静的港湾。

Chuán huǎnhuǎn shǐrùle níngjìng de gǎngwān.

The ship slowly sailed into the tranquil harbor.

墨西哥湾的石油资源很丰富。

Mòxīgē wān de shíyóu zīyuán hěn fēngfù.

The Gulf of Mexico is rich in petroleum resources.

河湾处是钓鱼的好地方。

Hé wān chù shì diàoyú de hǎo dìfāng.

The river bend is a good place for fishing.

北部湾的经济合作正在加强。

Běibù Wān de jīngjì hézuò zhèngzài jiāqiáng.

Economic cooperation in the Beibu Gulf is strengthening.

这个深海湾有着独特的生态系统。

Zhège shēnhǎi wān yǒuzhe dútè de shēngtài xìtǒng.

This deep-sea bay has a unique ecosystem.

珠江三角洲位于珠江口及其沿岸湾区内。

Zhūjiāng sānjiǎozhōu wèiyú Zhūjiāng kǒu jí qí yán'àn wān qū nèi.

The Pearl River Delta is located within the Pearl River Estuary and its coastal bay area.

Related Characters

Component: 弯

塆

Component: 氵

法 没 海 活 治 清 济 流 深 满 消 注 派 河

Example Words

台湾 亚龙湾 杭州湾 沙湾 波斯湾 海湾 港湾 湾仔 荔湾 荔湾区 铜锣湾 龙湾 亚丁湾 北部湾 南泥湾 台湾话 墨西哥湾 大亚湾 峡湾 张湾 东京湾 海勃湾区 渤海湾 胶州湾