What is "ruan"

The ruan (阮, pinyin: ruǎn) is a Chinese plucked string instrument. It is a lute with a fretted neck, a circular body, and four strings. Its four strings were formerly made of silk but since the 20th century they have been made of steel (flatwound for the lower strings). The modern ruan has 24 frets with 12 semitones on each string, which has greatly expanded its range from a previous 13 frets. The frets are commonly made of ivory or in recent times of metal mounted on wood. The metal frets produce a brighter tone as compared to the ivory frets. It is sometimes called ruanqin (阮琴, pinyin: ruǎnqín), particularly in Taiwan.

Ruan is a family name originated from China.

The Mandarin Chinese version is romanized as Ruǎn in pinyin and Juǎn for the Wade–Giles System formerly standard in Taiwan. The Taiwanese Hokkien version is transcribed Ńg in Pe̍h-ōe-jī. The Cantonese version is romanized Jyun2 in the Jyutping system or Yún in the Yale system, or more commonly Yuen or Un (the latter is typical in Macau). In Hokchew Chinese, it is Nguang.

Its Vietnamese equivalent is Nguyễn (pronounced in Northern Vietnamese and in Southern Vietnamese), and is the most common Vietnamese family name.

A ruan is a Chinese musical instrument.

Ruan may also refer to: