Learn a Chinese Character - 栏

1. Character Basics

Radical: 木 (wood radical)

Stroke Count: 9

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: lán (Second tone)

3. Meaning

Fence; railing; barrier; balustrade;栏干; column (in a newspaper or magazine); section

4. Common Words

• 栏杆 (lángān) - balustrade; railing; handrail
• 围栏 (wéilán) - fence; railing; enclosure
• 护栏 (hùlán) - guardrail; protective railing
• 专栏 (zhuānlán) - column (in a newspaper or magazine)
• 栏目 (lánmù) - column; section (in a newspaper or on TV)
• 牛栏 (niúlán) - cowshed; cattle pen
• 石栏 (shílán) - stone railing; stone balustrade
• 跨栏 (kuàlán) - hurdle; to hurdle (in track and field)

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "栏" is primarily used as a noun referring to barriers, railings, or enclosures, both physical and metaphorical (as in newspaper columns).

Grammar Patterns:

• 栏+杆: 栏杆 (balustrade; railing)
• 围+栏: 围栏 (fence; railing)
• 护+栏: 护栏 (guardrail; protective railing)
• 专+栏: 专栏 (column in a newspaper or magazine)
• 栏+目: 栏目 (column; section)
• 牛+栏: 牛栏 (cowshed; cattle pen)
• 石+栏: 石栏 (stone railing)
• 跨+栏: 跨栏 (hurdle; to hurdle)

6. Cultural Background

The character "栏" has significant cultural and historical connotations in Chinese society, particularly in relation to architecture, agriculture, and media.

In traditional Chinese architecture, railings (栏杆) have been an important feature for both functional and decorative purposes. Elaborately carved wooden or stone railings can be found in ancient Chinese palaces, temples, gardens, and bridges, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and artistic expression.

In rural areas, fences and enclosures (围栏) have long been used to protect crops and livestock, reflecting the importance of agriculture in Chinese culture. The character "栏" is often associated with rural life and agricultural practices.

In modern times, the character has taken on additional meanings related to media and publishing. Terms like "专栏" (zhuānlán, column) and "栏目" (lánmù, section) are commonly used in newspapers, magazines, and television to refer to specific content sections.

The character's structure, with "木" (wood) as the radical, reflects its original association with wooden barriers and railings, which were commonly used in ancient China before the widespread use of other materials.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "栏" (lán) consists of two parts:

• The radical "木" (mù, wood) on the left, which indicates that the meaning is related to wood or wooden objects
• The component "兰" (lán, orchid) on the right, which provides the pronunciation

To remember the character, think of it as "a wooden (木) barrier that has the pronunciation of orchid (兰)".

Associate the character with common words like "栏杆" (lángān, railing) and visualize a wooden railing or fence, which helps connect the character's appearance to its meaning.

You can also remember that the radical "木" is always on the left side of the character, which helps with proper stroke order when writing it.

Break down the character into its components and practice writing it to reinforce your memory of its structure and stroke count.

Remember that the character can refer to both physical barriers (like railings) and metaphorical ones (like newspaper columns), which expands its usage beyond just wooden structures.