How to Write 脘 (wǎn) — Meaning “stomach cavity; epigastrium”

Imagine your stomach cavity as a "complete" (完) organ (月) — it is the hollow space where digestion finishes. Another way: picture the radical 月 as a belly, and the top part of 完 as a lid covering a "cavity" inside. This visual link helps you recall both the meaning and the sound "wǎn."

Write the left radical 月 first (3 strokes, thin and tall), then the right part 完 (8 strokes). A common mistake is making the 月 too wide — keep it narrow so the right side has enough space. Also, in 完, the top 宀 (roof) should cover the 元 below, and don’t forget the last dot on top of 元.

脘 (wǎn) means "stomach cavity" and has the components 月 + 完. 朐 (qú) also has 月 but with 句, meaning "dried meat" or a bent arm. 朔 (shuò) combines 月 with 屰 and means "new moon" (first day of lunar month). Visually, 脘 uses 完, 朐 uses 句, and 朔 uses 屰 (a reversed 大). Their pronunciations and meanings are all distinct.

脘 appears mostly in medical contexts, especially Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), in terms like 胃脘 (wèi wǎn, "epigastrium") and 脘痛 (wǎn tòng, "stomach ache"). It is not a common daily character and is not part of the HSK vocabulary. Culturally, TCM divides the abdomen into regions, and 脘 specifically refers to the upper central area below the chest.

Common words containing 脘 include: 胃脘 (wèi wǎn) — Epigastrium; 脘腹 (wǎn fù) — abdomen; stomach and belly; 脘痛 (wǎn tòng) — stomach ache; epigastric pain.