絆 meaning and stroke order
A loop of thread; shackles, fetters; to stumble, to trip
How to write 絆, stroke by stroke
11 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
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
Meaning of 絆
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to trip
- to stumble
- to hinder
How 絆 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Thread.
糹 gives the meaning and 半 hints at the sound.
Radical: 糹 (silk), shared by 126 characters on this site.
How to remember 絆
絆 combines thread 糹 with 半 (bàn), which gives the sound. Picture a thread stretched halfway across a path that catches your foot and trips you.
In mainland China this character is written 绊 and appears mostly in compounds about tripping or being held back, like 绊倒 (bàndǎo) and 绊脚石 (bànjiǎoshí). Example: 他被石头绊倒了。(Tā bèi shítou bàndǎo le.) He tripped over a stone.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes confuse 絆 with 伴 (bàn, companion), which has the same sound and phonetic part but uses the person radical 亻. If the meaning is about thread, tying, or tripping, use 絆 (simplified 绊), not 伴.
Common words with 絆
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 絆倒 | bàndǎo | to trip; to stumble | |
| 羈絆 | jībàn | trammels; fetters | |
| 絆腳石 | bànjiǎoshí | stumbling block; obstacle | |
| 牽絆 | qiānbàn | to bind; to yoke |
Questions about 絆
How many strokes are in 絆?
絆 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 絆 mean?
絆 (bàn) means a loop of thread; shackles, fetters; to stumble, to trip. A common word with it is 绊倒 (bàndǎo), meaning "to trip; to stumble".
How do you pronounce 絆?
絆 is pronounced bàn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 絆?
The radical of 絆 is 糹, which carries the idea of "silk". Dictionaries list 絆 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 絆?
絆 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 绊, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 绊倒 and 摔倒?
绊倒 (bàndǎo) means you fell because your foot caught on something. 摔倒 (shuāidǎo) just means to fall down, for any reason.
Can 絆 be used figuratively?
Yes. 羁绊 (jībàn) and 牵绊 (qiānbàn) describe emotional or practical ties that hold a person back, such as family duties. 绊脚石 (bànjiǎoshí) means an obstacle to progress.