Common Meanings
1
wǎn挽
To pull, draw (as a bow), or to retain/keep someone from leaving.
他试图挽留住离开的客人。
He tried to retain the departing guest.
To save, rescue, or retrieve a deteriorating situation; to turn the tide.
在关键时刻，他的果断决策力挽狂澜，避免了更大的损失。
At the crucial moment, his decisive action turned the tide, preventing greater losses.
To mourn the dead; to express condolences for the deceased (e.g., in elegiac couplets, funeral orations, or funeral scrolls).
他们为逝者写了深情的挽联。
They wrote heartfelt elegiac couplets for the deceased.
Used to mean 'late' or 'later,' similar to '晚' (wǎn). This usage is generally archaic.
挽近才有人发现这块古老的石碑。
Only in recent times (lately) did someone discover this ancient stone tablet.
To coil up or tie up (e.g., hair, sleeves), similar to 绾.
她把长发挽成一个髻。
She coiled her long hair into a bun.