quan
[kwaːn˧˧]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(noun) mandarin
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Bẩm quan, con thật tình không biết ạ.My Lord, I frankly do not know.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Sense 2
Meaning · English
(noun) official
Register: informal
Sense 3
Meaning · English
(noun) string of six hundred coins.
Register: informal
Examples
Xin ông coi một đồng nầy có lỗ vuông giữa, chúng tôi quen xỏ sáu trăm đồng thể ấy cùng nhau, ấy là một quan.Look at this penny which has a square hole in the middle, we string six hundred of these together; and these form what we call a quan or bundle.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Common questions
What does “quan” mean?
(noun) mandarin
Is “quan” formal or informal?
quan is generally informal.