编 meaning and stroke order
To weave; to plait; to organize
How to write 编, 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 编
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to weave
- to plait
- to organize
- to group
- to arrange
- to edit
How 编 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Thread.
纟 gives the meaning and 扁 hints at the sound.
Radical: 纟 (silk), shared by 143 characters on this site.
How to remember 编
The silk radical 纟 (thread) on the left shows weaving with thread, and 扁 (biǎn) on the right gives the sound. Picture flat strips of thread being woven together, then think of weaving words or items into an organized whole.
编 starts with the physical sense of weaving or braiding, but it is most common in words about organizing and creating content, like 编辑 (biānjí, to edit) and 编号 (biānhào, serial number). It can also mean making something up, as in 编造 (biānzào). Example: 她会编辫子。(Tā huì biān biànzi.) She can braid hair.
Common mistake: Learners often read 编 as biǎn because of its sound part 扁, but 编 is first tone, biān. Also do not confuse it with 遍 (biàn, a time or occurrence) or 偏 (piān, slanted), which share the same right side.
Common words with 编
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 编辑 | biānjí | to edit; to compile | HSK 5 |
| 编制 | biānzhì | to establish (a unit or department); authorized staffing allocation in government or publi | HSK 6 |
| 编剧 | biānjù | to write a play; scenario | HSK 7-9 |
| 编号 | biānhào | to number; to assign numbers; serial number | HSK 7-9 |
| 改编 | gǎibiān | to adapt; to rearrange | HSK 7-9 |
| 编造 | biānzào | to compile; to draw up | HSK 7-9 |
| 主编 | zhǔbiān | editor in chief | HSK 7-9 |
| 编写 | biānxiě | to compile | HSK 7-9 |
| 编排 | biānpái | to arrange; to lay out | HSK 7-9 |
| 邮编 | yóubiān | postal code; zip code | HSK 7-9 |
| 编织 | biānzhī | to weave; to knit; to plait; to braid; (fig.) to create (sth abstract, e.g. a dream, a lie | |
| 编码 | biānmǎ | to code; to encode | |
| 编程 | biānchéng | (computing) to program; programming | |
| 瞎编 | xiābiān | to fabricate (a story) |
编 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 编
How many strokes are in 编?
编 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 编 mean?
编 (biān) means to weave; to plait; to organize. A common word with it is 编辑 (biānjí), meaning "to edit; to compile".
How do you pronounce 编?
编 is pronounced biān, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 编?
The radical of 编 is 纟, which carries the idea of "silk". Dictionaries list 编 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 编?
The traditional form of 编 is 編. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 编 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 编 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 编 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 3.
Does 编 mean to lie or make something up?
Yes, in casual speech 编 can mean to invent a story or excuse. For example, 别编了 (bié biān le) means stop making things up. The more formal word is 编造 (biānzào).
What does 编制 mean when people talk about jobs?
In China, 有编制 (yǒu biānzhì) means holding an officially authorized position in a government or public institution. Such jobs are seen as stable, so people often ask whether a job comes with 编制.