Usage note
“圆”表示像圆圈一样的形状。
“Yuán” biǎoshì xiàng yuánquān yīyàng de xíngzhuàng.
“圆” means a shape like a circle.
Context note
我们常用“圆”来说太阳、月亮、盘子或球。
Wǒmen cháng yòng “yuán” lái shuō tàiyáng, yuèliàng, pánzi huò qiú.
We often use “圆” to talk about the sun, moon, plate, or ball.
5 examples
月亮是圆的。
yuè liàng shì yuán de。
The moon is round.
这个盘子是圆的。
zhè ge pán zi shì yuán de。
This plate is round.
他画了一个圆。
tā huà le yí gè yuán。
He drew a circle.
皮球是圆的。
pí qiú shì yuán de。
The ball is round.
太阳看起来是圆的。
tài yáng kàn qǐ lái shì yuán de。
The sun looks round.
5 mini stories
小强在纸上画了一个圆。他说这是太阳。
xiǎo qiáng zài zhǐ shàng huà le yí gè yuán。 tā shuō zhè shì tài yáng。
Xiao Qiang drew a circle on the paper. He said this is the sun.
妈妈买了一个圆蛋糕。我们都很开心。
mā ma mǎi le yí gè yuán dàn gāo。 wǒ men dōu hěn kāi xīn。
Mom bought a round cake. We were all very happy.
圆圆的月亮挂在天上。小兔子看着它。
yuán yuán de yuè liàng guà zài tiān shàng。 xiǎo tù zi kàn zhe tā。
The round moon hung in the sky. The little rabbit looked at it.
小朋友手拉手围成一个圆。他们一起唱歌。
xiǎo péng yǒu shǒu lā shǒu wéi chéng yí gè yuán。 tā men yì qǐ chàng gē。
The children held hands and formed a circle. They sang together.
圆圆的西瓜很好吃。小华吃了一块。
yuán yuán de xī guā hěn hǎo chī。 xiǎo huá chī le yí kuài。
The round watermelon was very tasty. Xiao Hua ate a piece.
Mini dialogue
Playing with a ball
A
你的球是什么形状？
Nǐ de qiú shì shénme xíngzhuàng?
What shape is your ball?
B
它是圆的。
Tā shì yuán de.
It is round.
Drawing the moon
A
月亮是什么样子的？
Yuèliàng shì shénme yàngzi de?
What does the moon look like?
B
月亮是圆的，很亮。
Yuèliàng shì yuán de, hěn liàng.
The moon is round and very bright.
Related words and contrasts
similar
圆形
yuán xíng
circular shape
圆形 is a noun meaning 'circle shape', while 圆 can be an adjective or noun.
opposite
方
fāng
square
方 means square, the opposite shape to round.
related
团圆
tuán yuán
reunion
团圆 uses 圆 to express the idea of completeness and togetherness, like a full circle.