How to Write 唁 (yàn) — Meaning “To offer condolences.”

Imagine someone sending a condolence message with their mouth (口) saying "YAN" (言) to express sympathy. The sound of 唁 (yàn) is like "yan" in "yarn," so you can think of weaving a sad story with words.

Pay attention to the balance between the left and right parts: 口 should be small and placed high, while 言 has 7 strokes with the top dot centered and the lower 口 smaller than the left radical. Avoid making the left 口 too large, as it should be compact.

呢 (ne) is a modal particle for questions or emphasis, with a different right component (尼), while 呣 (m̄/m̀) is an interjection like "hmm" with a simpler right side (毋). 唁 specifically means "to offer condolences" and always relates to expressing sympathy, unlike the other two.

唁 appears in formal or written contexts like 吊唁 (paying respects at a funeral) and 唁电 (telegram of condolences). Culturally, sending a 唁电 is a polite way to express sympathy when you cannot attend a funeral in person.

Common words containing 唁 include: 吊唁 (diào yàn) — To offer condolences; 唁电 (yàn diàn) — Message of condolence or condolence telegram.; 慰唁 (wèi yàn) — to offer condolences.