搬 meaning and stroke order
To move (i.e. relocate oneself); to move (sth relatively heavy or bulky); to shift
How to write 搬, stroke by stroke
13 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 搬
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to move (i.e. relocate oneself)
- to move (sth relatively heavy or bulky)
- to shift
- to copy indiscriminately
How 搬 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 般 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 搬
The hand 扌 on the left tells you this is an action you do with your hands, and 般 (bān) on the right gives the sound. Picture your hand lifting heavy boxes when you 搬 (bān), move them.
搬 is used for moving heavy or bulky things and for relocating where you live, most often in 搬家 (bānjiā, to move house). It can also mean copying something mechanically, as in 照搬 (zhàobān). Example: 我们下个月搬家。 (Wǒmen xià ge yuè bānjiā.) We are moving house next month.
Common mistake: Learners often write 般 (bān) alone when they mean 搬, since both sound the same. Remember that 般 means "kind, sort" as in 一般 (yìbān), while the verb "to move" needs the hand radical 扌.
Common words with 搬
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
搬 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 搬
How many strokes are in 搬?
搬 is written with 13 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 搬 mean?
搬 (bān) means to move (i.e. relocate oneself); to move (sth relatively heavy or bulky); to shift. A common word with it is 搬家 (bānjiā), meaning "to move house; to relocate; to remove (sth)".
How do you pronounce 搬?
搬 is pronounced bān, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 搬?
The radical of 搬 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 搬 under this radical.
Is 搬 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 搬 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 搬 and 移 (yí)?
搬 usually means physically carrying something heavy or relocating your home. 移 is more general and formal, meaning to shift position, as in 移动 (yídòng) or 移民 (yímín).
Can 搬 be used for moving light objects like a pen?
Not usually. For small things you would say 拿 (ná) or 放 (fàng). 搬 suggests the item is big or heavy enough to need effort, like a table or boxes.