This is the 2637th most frequent Chinese word.
阎
"阎" refers to a surname or, in mythology, the ruler of the underworld (Yama).
阎王 refers to King Yan, a mythological figure governing the underworld, showing the noun usage of 阎 in a proper name.
阎王掌管阴间的生死轮回。
The King Yan oversees the cycle of life and death in the underworld.
阎 here is used as a surname, indicating its proper noun usage.
他姓阎，是一位著名的历史学家。
His surname is Yan, and he is a renowned historian.
阎罗, meaning King Yanluo, is referenced metaphorically to imply a challenging situation, showcasing cultural connotation of the word 阎.