(wǎn) — to roll up (sleeves, trousers); to carry on the arm; to link arms; to lament the dead (used in compounds like 挽联, 挽歌)

Definition

挽 (wǎn) means to link arms with or roll up (sleeves). In compounds like 挽回 it means to retrieve or salvage a situation.

verb
to roll up (sleeves, trousers)to carry on the armto link armsto lament the dead (used in compounds like 挽联, 挽歌)

Examples

  • Tā wǎn qǐ xiù zi jiù kāi shǐ gàn huó.
    He rolled up his sleeves and started working.
  • Tā wǎn zhe mā ma de shǒu bì màn màn zǒu.
    She walked slowly with her arm linked through her mother's.
  • Tā wǎn zhe nán péng you de gē bo.
    She linked arms with her boyfriend.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Written in full asshǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
miǎnwǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 挽, the left part 扌 is a hand symbol, showing an action done with the hand. The right part 免 supplies the sound.

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