wǎn

variant of 碗

HSK 3

Character Breakdown

Understanding

The character refers to a bowl, typically used for rice, soup, or other foods. It is a common everyday noun in Chinese, essential for talking about meals and dining.

Usage in Conversation

You will often hear used when ordering food, describing tableware, or discussing portions of food. For example, "米饭" means "a bowl of rice," a very common phrase.

Common Collocations

  • (a bowl of soup): used when serving or ordering soup.
  • 米饭 (a bowl of rice): a staple phrase for meals.
  • (inside the bowl): used to describe contents.

Tips

When using , remember it usually refers to the container rather than the food itself, though it often implies the food inside. Avoid confusing with (plate) or (cup). The measure word for is usually or sometimes just implied.

Summary

is a fundamental word for everyday dining contexts, useful for learners to describe food portions and tableware naturally.

Example Sentences

请给我一个碗,我要盛汤。

Qǐng gěi wǒ yí gè wǎn, wǒ yào chéng tāng.

Please give me a bowl, I want to serve soup.

这家餐厅的碗很漂亮,是手工制作的。

Zhè jiā cāntīng de wǎn hěn piàoliang, shì shǒugōng zhìzuò de.

The bowls in this restaurant are very beautiful; they are handmade.

他吃了一碗米饭就觉得很饱了。

Tā chī le yì wǎn mǐfàn jiù juéde hěn bǎo le.

He felt full after eating one bowl of rice.