玩 (wán) means "to play" with HSK 1 on the new exam.
Pronunciation
Meaning
Primary: to play
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
玩 does not appear in oracle-bone script and is a later phono-semantic compound. The left component 玉 (jade, written 王 in composition) gives the meaning, since the character originally referred to handling or fondling jade objects, while 元 (yuán) supplies the phonetic.
Form evolution
The character stabilised in seal script as 玉 on the left and 元 on the right. Clerical and regular script reduced the jade radical to the three-stroke 王 shape used today, while 元 kept its form with only minor straightening of strokes.
How the meaning evolved
The earliest sense was to turn a jade object over in one's hands to appreciate it, which broadened to toying with, playing with, or trifling with something. Modern Mandarin uses it for playing in general, including games, leisure activities, and visiting places for fun.
Cultural note
The original jade-handling sense survives in 玩物 (curios, playthings) and 玩味 (to ponder, to savour the meaning of). The 王 on the left is the jade radical, not the king radical, even though the two look identical in modern type.
Basic info
| Pinyin | wán |
| Meanings | to play |
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 1 |
| Frequency | #790 most common |
Example sentences
Words containing 玩
On the new HSK 1 exam
Studying for HSK 1? Keep 玩 with the rest of your level.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.