弯

Tap the pinyin to hear it

to bend; bent; a bend; a turn (in a road etc); CL:道[dao4]

Sound it out + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Ideographic compound (会意字)

Like 亦 a bow 弓

Components 亦弓

curved · Heisig RSH #1492

apple + 弓 bow

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
弯道超车	wān dào chāo chē	to overtake on a bend (driving); (fig.) taking opportunity of tight corners to make swift …
弯曲空间	wān qū kōng jiān	curved space
弯管面	wān guǎn miàn	elbow pasta
走弯路	zǒu wān lù	to take an indirect route; to waste one's time by using an inappropriate method
弯曲度	wān qū dù	curvature; camber
弯月形透镜	wān yuè xíng tòu jìng	meniscus lens
存水弯	cún shuǐ wān	trap (plumbing); U-bend
弯子	wān zi	bend; turn; curve
急转弯	jí zhuǎn wān	to make a sudden turn
绕弯子儿	rào wān zǐ r	lit. to go on a long detour; fig. to speak vaguely around the topic without getting to the…
弯道	wān dào	winding road; road curve
弯液面	wān yè miàn	meniscus (physics)
弯路	wān lù	winding road; roundabout route; detour; (fig.) wrong way (of doing sth)
弯角	wān jiǎo	corner; bend; curve
转弯	zhuǎn wān	to turn; to go around a corner
转弯抹角	zhuǎn wān mò jiǎo	see 拐彎抹角\|拐弯抹角[guai3 wan1 mo4 jiao3]
弯月	wān yuè	crescent moon; crescent shape
曲里拐弯	qū lǐ guǎi wān	winding and turning (idiom)
弯曲	wān qū	to bend; to curve around; curved; crooked; to wind; to warp
弯弯曲曲	wān wān qū qū	curved; meandering; zigzagging

These characters use 弯 as their sound component — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
弯 sound part	wān	bend, curve, turn
湾	wān	bay, cove, gulf, inlet