Xuán

Xuán (pinyin: xuán, second tone) is a Chinese syllable that appears in several different characters. In Mandarin, it is not a single word but a pronunciation shared by multiple characters, each with its own meaning and usage.

One common character is 玄, meaning profound or mysterious. It occurs in words such as 玄学 (metaphysics), 玄妙 (profound or subtle), and 玄关 (the entrance hall or an inner doorway). The character has historical associations with the unknown and the abstruse.

Another character is 旋, which means to rotate or spin. It appears in terms like 旋风 (whirlwind), 旋转 (to rotate), and 旋律 (melody; xuánlǜ). The sense of turning or twisting is central to its usage.

A further character is 悬, meaning to hang or suspend. Common words include 悬挂 (to suspend), 悬崖 (cliff), 悬念 (suspense), and 悬浮 (to be suspended or floating). The word often conveys a sense of hanging or precariousness.

Xuán also occurs in personal names and place names, and its exact meaning depends on the chosen character. Because several characters share the same pronunciation, context is essential to identify the intended sense.