圈圈 (quān quān) — (v.o.) to draw circles; to encircle; (noun) soc…

Definition

圈圈 (juān) is a colloquial verb-object form meaning 'to draw circles / encircle', and by extension the noun 'circles (shapes or social groups)'. Doubled form, more casual than 圈 alone; often used for playful or repeated circling.

verb

(v.o.) to draw circlesto encircle

noun

social circlescliquescircles (as in shapes or groups)

Examples

圈圈。
Xiǎo péng yǒu zài zhǐ shàng quān quān wán.
The child is drawing circles on the paper for fun.
圈圈。
Tā huà le yí gè dà dà de quān quān.
He drew a big circle.
圈圈。
Nà xiē yì shù quān quān de rén jīng cháng yì qǐ zhǎn lǎn.
People in those art circles often exhibit together.

Origin

Reduplicated word

构词法gòucífǎ

重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

圈quāncircle

圈 means circle; doubling it suggests drawing circles or several circles.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

囗卷圈

Meaning part形符xíngfú

囗囗wéi

Sound part声符shēngfú

卷

卷juàn圈quān

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

圈 is made of the outer 囗, an enclosure shape, and the inner 卷, which gives the sound.

Open 圈 →