巴 meaning and stroke order
To desire, to wish for
How to write 巴, stroke by stroke
4 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Meaning of 巴
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to long for
- to wish
- to cling to
- to stick to
- sth that sticks
- close to
How 巴 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 巳 (the hours from 9 to 11), shared by 6 characters on this site.
How to remember 巴
巴 (bā) looks like its component 巳 with an extra line cutting through, like something stuck tight to it. Think of a thing that clings and won't let go, just as you cling to what you long for.
On its own 巴 is rare in modern speech. You meet it mostly inside words: as a neutral-tone suffix in body parts like 嘴巴 (zuǐba, mouth), 尾巴 (wěiba, tail) and 下巴 (xiàba, chin), as a sound in loanwords like 巴士 (bāshì, bus), and in 巴不得 (bābudé, to be eager for). Example: 我巴不得马上放假。(Wǒ bābudé mǎshàng fàngjià.) I can't wait for the holidays to start.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 巴 with 巳 (sì) and 已 (yǐ), which look almost the same. Also, in words like 嘴巴 and 尾巴 the 巴 is said in the neutral tone (ba), not a full first tone bā.
Common words with 巴
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 嘴巴 | zuǐba | mouth (CL:張|张[zhang1]); slap in the face | HSK 4 |
| 巴士 | bāshì | bus (loanword); motor coach | HSK 4 |
| 尾巴 | wěiba | tail; colloquial pr. [yi3 ba5] | HSK 4 |
| 大巴 | dàbā | (coll.) large bus; coach | HSK 4 |
| 巴不得 | bābudé | (coll.) to be eager for; to long for | HSK 7-9 |
| 下巴 | xiàba | chin | |
| 鸡巴 | jība | dick; penis (vulgar) | |
| 乡巴佬 | xiāngbalǎo | (derog.) country bumpkin; hick | |
| 哑巴 | yǎba | a mute; mute; silent | |
| 泥巴 | níba | (coll.) mud | |
| 大嘴巴 | dàzuǐba | bigmouth; blabbermouth | |
| 巴巴 | bābā | (suffix) very; extremely | |
| 巴掌 | bāzhang | palm of the hand; classifier: slap | |
| 结巴 | jiēba | to stutter |
巴 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 巴
Learning 巴 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 巴
How many strokes are in 巴?
巴 is written with 4 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 巴 mean?
巴 (bā) means to desire, to wish for. A common word with it is 嘴巴 (zuǐba), meaning "mouth (CL:張|张[zhang1]); slap in the face".
How do you pronounce 巴?
巴 is pronounced bā, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 巴?
The radical of 巴 is 巳, which carries the idea of "the hours from 9 to 11". Dictionaries list 巴 under this radical.
Is 巴 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 巴 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
Why is 巴 used in words for bus?
巴 is used for its sound. 巴士 (bāshì) is a loanword from English "bus", and 大巴 (dàbā) is a short colloquial form for a large bus or coach.
Is 巴 ever a rude character?
巴 itself is neutral, but it appears in the vulgar word 鸡巴 (jība), so avoid that one. 乡巴佬 (xiāngbalǎo, country bumpkin) is also insulting and should be used with care.