般 meaning and stroke order
Sort, manner, kind, class
How to write 般, stroke by stroke
10 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 般
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- sort
- kind
- class
- way
- manner
- see 般樂|般乐[pan2 le4]
- used in 般若[bo1 re3]
How 般 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Using a tool 殳 to sort items on a tray 舟.
Radical: 舟 (boat), shared by 35 characters on this site.
How to remember 般
On the left is 舟, here pictured as a tray, and on the right is 殳, a hand holding a tool. Picture someone using the tool to sort items on the tray into different kinds, which gives 般 (bān) its meaning of sort or kind.
般 rarely stands alone in modern speech. It mostly appears in words like 一般 (yībān, ordinary, generally), 这般 (zhèbān, like this) and 百般 (bǎibān, in every possible way). Example: 他的中文一般般。(Tā de Zhōngwén yībānbān.) His Chinese is so-so.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 般 (bān) with 船 (chuán, boat), since both have 舟 on the left. Check the right side: 般 has 殳, while 船 has 几 over 口. Also keep the tone flat and first tone, not bàn as in 办.
Common words with 般
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
般 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 般
Learning 般 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 般
How many strokes are in 般?
般 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 般 mean?
般 (bān) means sort, manner, kind, class. A common word with it is 一般 (yībān), meaning "same; ordinary".
How do you pronounce 般?
般 is pronounced bān, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 般?
The radical of 般 is 舟, which carries the idea of "boat". Dictionaries list 般 under this radical.
Is 般 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 般 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What does 一般 mean and how is it different from 一般般?
一般 (yībān) means ordinary or average, and it can also mean generally, as in 一般来说 (generally speaking). 一般般 (yībānbān) is casual speech meaning so-so or not that good, and it sounds a bit more negative.
Why is 般 read bō in 般若?
般若 (bōrě) is a Buddhist term for wisdom that was borrowed from Sanskrit, so it keeps a special reading. The reading pán appears in the literary word 般乐 (pánlè). In everyday words, read it as bān.