阎 (yán) - Yan — a Chinese surname & also refers to the gate of a lane,

阎Tone 2

yán ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

妍嬿

阎 · yán

Yan — a Chinese surname;

also refers to the gate of a lane, a village gate, or historically to the gates of hell in Chinese mythology.

Yan — a Chinese surnamealso refers to the gate of a lane,

Usage highlights

Yan WangSurname YanYan JunYan LuoYan Wang YeYan Luo Dian

Synonyms

  • 阎王— King of Hell (mythological figure)
  • 阎罗— Yama (Buddhist deity of the underworld)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He is Mr. Yan (阎先生).
  • The surname Yan is common in northern China (阎姓).
  • In folklore, Yan Wang is the King of Hell (阎王).
  • The village gate was called yan (里阎).

Collocations

  • Yan Wang(阎王)
  • Surname Yan(阎姓)
  • Yan Jun(阎君)
  • Yan Luo(阎罗)
  • Yan Wang Ye(阎王爷)
  • Yan Luo Dian(阎罗殿)

Idioms

  • The King of Hell(阎王)
  • Yan Luo, the judge of the dead(阎罗)
  • Yan Wang's hall(阎王殿)
  • The ledger of life and death(阎王簿)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Primarily known as a Chinese surname with historical roots, particularly prominent in northern regions.
  • In Chinese folk religion and Buddhism, 'Yan' is associated with Yan Wang, the underworld king who judges souls after death.
  • The character appears in historical texts and genealogical records of prominent Yan families throughout Chinese history.

FAQ