逛
to stroll; to roam; to shop around
guàng
What does 逛 mean?
逛 (guàng) is a Chinese verb meaning 'to stroll,' 'to roam around,' or 'to shop around' for pleasure — wandering somewhere with no urgent purpose, just to look, relax, or browse (逛街 stroll the shops, 逛公园 wander the park, 逛超市 browse the supermarket). It is colloquial and everyday. The key nuance English lacks: 逛 always implies leisurely, unhurried movement done for enjoyment, so 逛街 ('go strolling the streets') is the standard way to say 'go shopping / window-shopping' as a fun outing, distinct from 买东西 (buy things), which focuses on the purchase.
You cannot use 逛 for walking purposefully to a destination — that is 走 or 去. It takes a place directly as its object without a preposition (逛商场 = 'browse the mall').
Note: 逛 is casual and everyday. It carries a relaxed, leisurely feel; you would not use it in formal writing where 游览 or 参观 fits better.
Character breakdown
to stroll; to roam; 辶 (walk radical) + 狂
Memory hook: The walk radical 辶 with 狂 (wild) — walking freely and 'wildly' with no set path is strolling.
Example sentences
周末我们去逛街吧。
Zhōumò wǒmen qù guàng jiē ba.
Let's go shopping this weekend.
spoken
我喜欢一个人慢慢逛书店。
Wǒ xǐhuan yí ge rén mànman guàng shūdiàn.
I like slowly browsing bookstores by myself.
spoken
吃完饭我们在公园里逛了一会儿。
Chī wán fàn wǒmen zài gōngyuán lǐ guàng le yíhuìr.
After dinner we strolled around the park for a while.
spoken
她逛了一下午也没买什么东西。
Tā guàng le yí xiàwǔ yě méi mǎi shénme dōngxi.
She browsed all afternoon but didn't buy anything.
neutral
Common phrases with 逛
Synonyms
散步 is 'to take a walk' for exercise or relaxation, usually a slow walk in one area. 逛 implies browsing shops or roaming to see things. You 散步 for health; you 逛 to shop or explore.
游览 is a formal 'to tour / sightsee' at scenic spots (游览长城). 逛 is casual roaming, often urban shopping. Use 游览 in travel writing; 逛 in daily speech.
Don't confuse 逛 with
狂 (kuáng) means 'wild / crazy' and is the phonetic component inside 逛, but on its own it is a different word. 逛 has the walk radical 辶; 狂 has the dog radical 犭.
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