磐 meaning and stroke order
Boulder, large rock; firm, stable
How to write 磐, stroke by stroke
15 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 磐
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- firm
- stable
- rock
How 磐 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Rock.
石 gives the meaning and 般 hints at the sound.
Radical: 石 (stone), shared by 114 characters on this site.
How to remember 磐
磐 puts 般 (bān) on top of 石 (shí, stone). 石 tells you the meaning is rock, and 般 gives the sound, so picture a huge boulder sitting solid under everything.
磐 is a literary character. You will mostly see it in 磐石 (pánshí), meaning a huge rock, often used to describe something firm and unshakable. Example: 他的决心坚如磐石。(Tā de juéxīn jiān rú pánshí.) His determination is as solid as a rock.
Common mistake: Learners often read 磐 as bān because of its phonetic part 般, but the correct reading is pán with a rising second tone. It is also easy to confuse with 盘 (pán, plate), which sounds the same but has 皿 at the bottom instead of 石.
Common words with 磐
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 磐石 | Pánshí | boulder |
Questions about 磐
How many strokes are in 磐?
磐 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 磐 mean?
磐 (pán) means boulder, large rock; firm, stable. A common word with it is 磐石 (Pánshí), meaning "boulder".
How do you pronounce 磐?
磐 is pronounced pán, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 磐?
The radical of 磐 is 石, which carries the idea of "stone". Dictionaries list 磐 under this radical.
What does 坚如磐石 mean?
坚如磐石 (jiān rú pánshí) means 'as firm as a boulder.' It describes strong beliefs, friendships, or foundations that cannot be shaken.
Can 磐 be used on its own in modern Chinese?
Rarely. In everyday speech you would say 石头 (shítou) or 大石头 for a rock. 磐 usually appears in set phrases, names, and formal or written language.