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HSK 2

慢

slow

adjectiveneutral1 episode
慢
màn4th tone

HSK level

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Pinyin
màn
Part of speech
adjective
Level
HSK 2
Strokes
14
Register
neutral
In episodes
1

Stroke order for 慢

慢 is written with 14 strokes. The animation replays automatically.

What does 慢 mean?

慢 (màn) is the adjective 'slow' — describing low speed, slow pace, or someone who acts unhurriedly.

Like other Chinese adjectives, it doesn't take 'is' as a separate verb: '他很慢' (tā hěn màn) literally 'he very slow' = 'he is slow.' To compare, use 比: 我比他慢 ('I'm slower than him'). 慢 also forms the polite parting 慢走 (màn zǒu, 'walk slowly') — what a host says to a departing guest, equivalent to 'take care.'

The doubled adverbial 慢慢 (mànmàn) means 'slowly / gradually' and pairs with 来 (慢慢来 = 'take your time') and 吃 (慢慢吃 = 'enjoy your meal,' literally 'eat slowly'). The opposite is 快 (kuài, 'fast'). Telling someone 慢一点 (màn yìdiǎn) means 'a bit slower, please' — useful in conversation.

Hear 慢 in real episodes

慢 appears in 1 Fluentide podcast episode at natural native speed — each with the full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake hit western Colombia and buildings collapsed. A trapped man said: 'There's a baby with me.'慢 spoken at natural speedbeginner
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Example sentences

他说话很慢。

Tā shuō huà hěn màn.

He speaks very slowly.

neutral

请慢一点儿。

Qǐng màn yìdiǎnr.

A little slower, please.

spoken, polite

慢走，再见！

Màn zǒu, zàijiàn!

Take care, goodbye!

spoken

别着急，慢慢来。

Bié zháojí, mànmàn lái.

Don't worry, take your time.

spoken

今天的火车比较慢。

Jīntiān de huǒchē bǐjiào màn.

Today's train is relatively slow.

neutral

Common phrases with 慢

慢慢mànmànslowly; gradually
慢走màn zǒutake care (said to a departing guest, lit. 'walk slowly')
慢一点màn yìdiǎna bit slower
慢车mànchēslow train; local train
慢慢来mànmàn láitake your time; no rush

Synonyms

缓慢huǎnmàn

缓慢 is a more formal/written word for 'slow,' used in news or descriptions ('economic growth is slow'). In everyday speech, use 慢.

Don't confuse 慢 with

漫màn

漫 (màn) has the 氵 'water' radical and means 'overflow' or 'free-flowing' — appears in 浪漫 'romantic' and 漫画 'comics/manga.' Same pronunciation as 慢 but different meaning.

忙máng

忙 (máng, second tone) means 'busy.' Both have the heart radical 忄 but 慢 is 'slow' (fourth tone) and 忙 is 'busy' (second tone). Easy to mix up because both relate to time/pace.

满mǎn

满 (mǎn, third tone) means 'full.' Different tone, different meaning, but the shape and pronunciation can trip up beginners.

FAQ

Related words from the same episodes

倒to fall over, to collapse地震earthquake房子building, house孩子child救to rescue快fast, quick名字name声音sound, voice手hand听to listen听见to hear下面underneath

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