万 (wàn) - ten thousand & a very great number

万Tone 4

wàn ｜ 3 strokes ｜ radical: 一

三丈

万 · wàn

ten thousand;

a very great number;

myriad;

absolutely;

by all means

ten thousanda very great numbermyriad

Usage highlights

Ten thousandMyriad thingsAll generationsUniversalEverythingCountless

Synonyms

  • 萬— traditional form of 万
  • 很多— very many

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • There are ten thousand students (一万名学生).
  • I wish you a long life of ten thousand years (万岁).
  • Everything is going well (万事如意).
  • This is a universal truth (万有引力 - universal gravitation).

Collocations

  • Ten thousand(一万)
  • Myriad things(万物)
  • All generations(万代)
  • Universal(万能)
  • Everything(万事)
  • Countless(无数万)

Idioms

  • Countless changes(变化万端)
  • Ready for all eventualities(万全之策)
  • Myriad stars(万点繁星)
  • Everything is renewed(万象更新)
  • A household name(万户千家)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese culture, '万' represents the largest common numerical unit and symbolizes abundance and completeness.
  • Used in auspicious phrases and blessings, such as '万事如意' (may everything go as you wish).
  • Historically used in titles like '万岁' (ten thousand years) for emperors, expressing longevity and power.

FAQ