Definition
缠 (chán) has three related senses: winding around, being entangled in matters, and pestering. Unlike 绕 (rào), which means circling or going around, 缠 implies tighter, more involved wrapping. 纠缠 (jiū chán) emphasizes troublesome nagging, while 缠绕 (chán rào) is a compound overlapping with 缠's physical sense.
verb
to wind aroundto coilto wrapto be tied up / entangled in (a matter, problem)to pesterto botherto nag persistently
Easily confused
- 产chǎnsound-aliketo produce, to manufacture, to yield
- 掺chānsound-aliketo mix (one substance into another), to blend in, to adulterate (by adding something)
- 铲chǎnsound-alikespade; shovel (noun)
- 搀chānsound-aliketo take by the arm and assist (e.g., an elderly or injured person)
- 馋chánsound-alike(adjective) gluttonous, greedy for food; fond of eating
Examples
- 缠，。Tā bǎ máoxiàn chán zài shǒu shàng, yì quān yòu yì quān.She wound the yarn around her hand, circle after circle.
- ，。Tā bèi zá shì chán zhù le, yìshí tuō bù liǎo shēn.He got bogged down by trivial matters and couldn't get away for a while.
- 缠。Nàge háizi yìzhí chán zhe māma yào mǎi wánjù.That child kept pestering his mom to buy him a toy.
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