Meaning Index
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "coil", including 卷 (juǎn / juàn), 缠 (chán). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
The English word "coil" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 卷 (juǎn / juàn), 缠 (chán) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span juǎn, juàn, chán — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 卷 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 卷 (juǎn / juàn) — so "coil" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "coil".
风一吹，地上的落叶卷了起来。Fēng yì chuī, dì shàng de luò yè juǎn le qǐ lái.As the wind blew, the fallen leaves on the ground curled up.
Common words: 试卷 (shì juàn)、问卷 (wèn juàn)、卷入 (juǎn rù)
风筝线缠在了树枝上，怎么也解不开。Fēng zheng xiàn chán zài le shù zhī shàng, zěn me yě jiě bu kāi.The kite string got tangled in the branches and could not be undone.
Common words: 缠绕 (chán rào)、纠缠 (jiū chán)、缠手 (chán shǒu)
Open 卷、缠 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.