ruan
Ruan (noun) means a traditional Chinese stringed instrument with a long fretted neck and a round body, played by plucking. Example: “The ensemble featured a ruan alongside the pipa and erhu.”
How to use ruan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA round-bodied Chinese lute, similar in family to the pipa, that comes in several sizes from bass to soprano.
Word forms
ruans plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The ensemble featured a _____ alongside the pipa and erhu.
Etymology
Borrowed from Mandarin 阮 (ruǎn), itself short for 阮咸 (ruǎnxián), named after a musician associated with the instrument.
Rhymes for ruan
See all rhymes for ruan →Frequently asked questions
What does “ruan” mean?
The word “ruan” means a traditional Chinese stringed instrument with a long fretted neck and a round body, played by plucking. In plain terms, a round-bodied Chinese lute, similar in family to the pipa, that comes in several sizes from bass to soprano.
How do you use “ruan” in a sentence?
Here is “ruan” used in a sentence: “The ensemble featured a ruan alongside the pipa and erhu.”
What part of speech is “ruan”?
“Ruan” is a noun.
What is the meaning of ruan?
"ruan" (noun) means a traditional Chinese stringed instrument with a long fretted neck and a round body, played by plucking.