noun
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.”
noun
1
A traditional Chinese stringed instrument with a long fretted neck and a round body, played by plucking.
"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.
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Word forms
- Plural
- ruans
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.
