弯

彎

wān

亦 + 弓

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

wān (verb) to bend; to curve

wān (noun) bend; curve; turn (in road)

Etymology

Simplified form of 彎. Phonosemantic compound. 弓 represents the meaning and 䜌 represents the sound.

About

弯 is the simplified form of 彎. The character combines 弓 ('bow'), indicating arched shapes and tension, with a phonetic element: in the traditional form, 䜌 provides the sound, while the simplified version replaces it with 亦. It denotes a curve, a bend, or bending something into an arc like drawing a bow. Descriptively, it applies to winding roads, meandering rivers, and curved objects, and as a verb it means to stoop or to bend a material.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这条小河弯弯的。

Zhè tiáo xiǎo hé wān wān de.

This small river is curvy.

前面有一个弯道。

Qiánmiàn yǒu yī gè wān dào.

There is a curve ahead.

山路弯弯曲曲的。

Shān lù wān wān qū qū de.

The mountain road is winding.

他弯腰捡起铅笔。

Tā wān yāo jiǎn qǐ qiān bǐ.

He bent down to pick up the pencil.

司机小心地转弯。

Sījī xiǎoxīn de zhuǎn wān.

The driver turns carefully.

弯月挂在夜空中。

Wān yuè guà zài yè kōng zhōng.

The crescent moon hangs in the night sky.

她有一头弯弯的长发。

Tā yǒu yī tóu wān wān de cháng fà.

She has long, wavy hair.

在人生的道路上，难免会有弯路。

Zài rénshēng de dàolù shàng, nánmiǎn huì yǒu wān lù.

On the path of life, it's inevitable to have detours.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 亦

Component: 弓

弯