灣 (wān) - Bay, gulf, bend in a river or coastline & a deep inlet of the sea or a

灣Tone 1

wān ｜ 25 strokes ｜ radical:

婷婉

灣 · wān

Bay, gulf, bend in a river or coastline;

a deep inlet of the sea or a curve in a river.

Bay, gulf, bend in a river or coastlinea deep inlet of the sea or a

Usage highlights

TaiwanBay Areaharbor bayriver bendgulfPenghu Bay

Synonyms

  • 港— harbor, port
  • 浦— river bank, inlet

Antonyms

  • 直— straight (antonym to the 'bend' sense)
  • 角— corner, sharp angle (contrasts with a smooth curve)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The ship entered the bay (海湾).
  • There is a sharp bend in the river (河湾).
  • We visited the Gulf of Tonkin (北部湾).
  • The coastal area has many inlets (港湾).

Collocations

  • Taiwan(台湾)
  • Bay Area(湾区)
  • harbor bay(港湾)
  • river bend(河湾)
  • gulf(海湾)
  • Penghu Bay(澎湖湾)

Idioms

  • A bend in the river, a turn in the road(河湾路转)
  • Seven Turns and Eight Bends(七湾八拐)
  • The dragon's lair and the tiger's den (龙潭虎穴) - sometimes used metaphorically with winding, dangerous places like a bay

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character is strongly associated with Taiwan (台湾), an island with a distinct cultural and political identity.
  • Historically, '湾' described natural harbors and river bends, which were crucial for settlement and trade.
  • In modern contexts, '湾区' often refers to major bay areas like the San Francisco Bay Area, symbolizing technological and economic hubs.

FAQ