斑 meaning and stroke order
Freckled, mottled, spotted, striped
How to write 斑, stroke by stroke
12 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 斑
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- spot
- colored patch
- stripe
- spotted
- striped
- variegated
How 斑 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Markings 文 in jade 王.
Radical: 文 (culture), shared by 7 characters on this site.
How to remember 斑
Picture a pattern 文 (wén) set between two pieces of jade 王 (here meaning 玉, jade). The markings inside the jade are its spots and streaks, so 斑 (bān) means spotted or striped.
斑 usually appears in compound words rather than alone, describing spots, stains, or stripes on skin, animals, or surfaces. Common words include 斑点 (bāndiǎn) spot and 斑马 (bānmǎ) zebra. Example: 她脸上有雀斑。(Tā liǎn shàng yǒu quèbān.) She has freckles on her face.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 斑 with 班 (bān, class or shift), which sounds the same and also has 王 on both sides, but has 刂 in the middle instead of 文. Remember that 文 means markings, so only 斑 is about spots.
Common words with 斑
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
斑 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 斑
How many strokes are in 斑?
斑 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 斑 mean?
斑 (bān) means freckled, mottled, spotted, striped. A common word with it is 斑点 (bāndiǎn), meaning "spot; stain".
How do you pronounce 斑?
斑 is pronounced bān, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 斑?
The radical of 斑 is 文, which carries the idea of "culture". Dictionaries list 斑 under this radical.
Is 斑 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 斑 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do you say zebra in Chinese?
Zebra is 斑马 (bānmǎ), literally a striped horse. The same idea appears in 斑马线 (bānmǎxiàn), the zebra crossing for pedestrians.
What does 斑斑 mean?
斑斑 (bānbān) describes something covered in spots or stains. It is often used in written phrases like 血迹斑斑 (xuèjì bānbān), meaning covered in bloodstains.