How to Write 冉 (rǎn) — Meaning “slowly; gradually”

Imagine a flag (the outer frame) with a pole (the inner vertical) and two horizontal stripes, slowly rising up a flagpole. Since 冉冉 means 'slowly', you can remember the character by picturing a flag rising slowly.

Write the left vertical stroke first, then the top and right side as one stroke (horizontal fold hook). Next, draw the inner vertical line, followed by the two horizontal strokes inside. Be sure the bottom horizontal connects both sides to close the frame, and keep the inner strokes centered.

冉 has a vertical line with two horizontal lines inside (like a capital I), while 冈 has an X-shaped cross inside. 円 (Japanese yen) has a single horizontal line through the frame. They also have different meanings: 冉 means 'gradually', 冈 means 'ridge', and 円 means 'yen'.

冉 is most often seen in the word 冉冉 (rǎn rǎn), meaning 'slowly' or 'gradually', especially in the phrase 冉冉升起 (rise slowly) for the sun, moon, or smoke. It is used in literary or formal Chinese, not in everyday conversation, and appears in poetry and descriptive writing.

Common words containing 冉 include: 冉冉 (rǎn rǎn) — slowly; gradually; 冉 (rǎn) — slowly; gradually; 冉冉升起 (rǎn rǎn shēng qǐ) — rise slowly.