COMPONENTS & ETYMOLOGY
How 阎 is built
Traditional etymology note: 门 (gate) suggests the meaning, while 臽 suggests the pronunciation.
More “yan” characters →Link copied to clipboard!
How to Write 阎 (yán) — Chinese Character Stroke Order, Meaning & Practice Sheet
surname Yan (sometimes written 閆|闫[Yan2] in recent years)
yánTone 2 (Rising)Pitch goes up like asking ‘What?’
Loading stroke data…
Loading handwriting practice…
Save or share this character guide
Link copied to clipboard!
STROKE BY STROKE
Static stroke diagrams
Follow all 11 strokes in the correct order.
Download PDF
StrokeSheetCharacter Writing Worksheet
yán
阎
surname Yan (sometimes written 閆|闫[Yan2] in recent years)
Common words
yán wáng
阎王
(Buddhism) Yama, the King of Hell; (fig.) cruel and tyrannical person
Follow the stroke order, then write it on your own.
阎
阎
阎
阎
阎
阎
阎
阎
LEARNING TIP
Remember 阎
Say “yán” aloud as you replay the animation. Then hide the model and write the 11 strokes from memory. Short, repeated practice builds a stronger visual and motor connection.
Practice on CanvasWORDS WITH 阎
Common words and phrases
yán wáng
(Buddhism) Yama, the King of Hell; (fig.) cruel and tyrannical person
Frequently asked questions
How many strokes are in 阎?
阎 is written with 11 strokes.
What does 阎 (yán) mean?
阎 (yán) means surname Yan (sometimes written 閆|闫[Yan2] in recent years).
What is the radical of 阎?
The radical of 阎 is 门, associated with Not yet classified.