Usage note
弯的意思是弯曲，不直。比如一条路不是直的，就是弯的。
Wān de yìsi shì wānqū, bù zhí. Bǐrú yī tiáo lù bùshì zhí de, jiùshì wān de.
Bend means curved, not straight. For example, if a road is not straight, it is bent.
Context note
我们经常用弯来形容小路、河流或者形状。小朋友走路时要小心弯道。
Wǒmen jīngcháng yòng wān lái xíngróng xiǎo lù, héliú huòzhě xíngzhuàng. Xiǎo péngyǒu zǒulù shí yào xiǎoxīn wān dào.
We often use bend to describe small paths, rivers, or shapes. Children should be careful on bends when walking.
5 examples
这条小路很弯。
zhè tiáo xiǎo lù hěn wān。
This small path is very bent.
小河弯弯的。
xiǎo hé wān wān de。
The small river is curvy.
他弯下腰捡玩具。
tā wān xià yāo jiǎn wán jù。
He bends down to pick up the toy.
弯弯的月亮像小船。
wān wān de yuè liàng xiàng xiǎo chuán。
The curved moon looks like a small boat.
小心那个弯角。
xiǎo xīn nà ge wān jiǎo。
Be careful of that bend corner.
5 mini stories
小明在公园里走一条弯弯的小路。他看到了很多花。
xiǎo míng zài gōng yuán lǐ zǒu yì tiáo wān wān de xiǎo lù。 tā kàn dào le hěn duō huā。
Xiao Ming walks on a curvy path in the park. He sees many flowers.
小猫追着一个弯弯的球。球滚到了椅子下面。
xiǎo māo zhuī zhe yí gè wān wān de qiú。 qiú gǔn dào le yǐ zi xià miàn。
The kitten chases a bent ball. The ball rolls under the chair.
妈妈弯下腰抱起了小妹妹。小妹妹笑了。
mā ma wān xià yāo bào qǐ le xiǎo mèi mei。 xiǎo mèi mei xiào le。
Mom bends down and picks up little sister. Little sister smiles.
画纸上有一条弯弯的彩虹。小朋友用彩色笔涂色。
huà zhǐ shàng yǒu yì tiáo wān wān de cǎi hóng。 xiǎo péng yǒu yòng cǎi sè bǐ tú sè。
There is a curved rainbow on the drawing paper. The child colors it with crayons.
爷爷在河边钓鱼，鱼竿弯了。他钓到一条大鱼。
yé ye zài hé biān diào yú， yú gān wān le。 tā diào dào yì tiáo dà yú。
Grandpa is fishing by the river, the fishing rod bends. He catches a big fish.
Mini dialogue
Bending a Stick
A
你能把这根树枝弯一下吗？
Nǐ néng bǎ zhè gēn shùzhī wān yīxià ma?
Can you bend this branch a little?
B
我试试，它有点硬，不容易弯。
Wǒ shì shì, tā yǒudiǎn yìng, bù róngyì wān.
I'll try, it's a bit hard, not easy to bend.
Curved Road
A
前面的路很弯，开车要小心。
Qiánmiàn de lù hěn wān, kāichē yào xiǎoxīn.
The road ahead is very curvy, drive carefully.
B
好的，我会慢一点。
Hǎo de, wǒ huì màn yīdiǎn.
Okay, I will slow down.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
直
zhí
straight
直 means straight, the opposite of bent or curved.
similar
弯曲
wān qū
curved, bent
弯曲 is a two-character word also meaning bent or curved.
related
折
zhé
to fold, bend
折 means to fold or bend something, like paper.