Radical 一

3 strokes

萬

one 一 (1) + bow (51a) = ten thousand 万

As well as the exact amount of “ten thousand”, this is used to mean “very many” in a more general sense.

As with Character 291, you might like to think of the bottom of this character as “wrap” instead of “bow”. The same comment on stroke order applies: some books suggest writing the last two strokes in the other order.

[百万 (40) bǎiwàn million]

[万能 (206) wànnéng multi-purpose; all-powerful]

[万岁 (116) A wànsuì Long live A!]

The village elder goes on a pilgrimage to see the fabled unicorn, bows to him and explains the plight of the village. “Ten thousand blessings will fall upon your village as a reward for your courage,” says the unicorn magnanimously. / [DIY pronunciation]