辯 meaning and stroke order
To argue, to dispute; to discuss, to debate
How to write 辯, stroke by stroke
21 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 辯
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to dispute
- to debate
- to argue
- to discuss
How 辯 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A bitter 辛 exchange of words 言.
Radical: 辛 (bitter), shared by 11 characters on this site.
How to remember 辯
Picture words 言 (yán) caught between two bitter 辛 (xīn) sides. Two people with sharp, bitter positions trade words in the middle, and that is a debate.
辯 (biàn) usually appears in compound words about arguing a point, such as 辯論 (biànlùn, debate) and 辯護 (biànhù, to defend). Example: 他們在辯論這個問題。(Tāmen zài biànlùn zhège wèntí.) They are debating this issue.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 辯 with 辨 (biàn, to distinguish) and 辮 (biàn, braid), which share the same pinyin and the 辛 辛 frame. Check the middle part: 言 (words) means argue, a dot and stroke 刂 means tell apart, and 糸 (silk) means braid.
Common words with 辯
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 辯論 | biànlùn | debate; argument | HSK 4 |
| 辯護 | biànhù | to speak in defense of; to argue in favor of | HSK 7-9 |
| 辯解 | biànjiě | to explain; to justify | HSK 7-9 |
| 答辯 | dábiàn | to reply (to an accusation); to defend one's dissertation | HSK 7-9 |
| 辯方 | biànfāng | (law) the defense | |
| 爭辯 | zhēngbiàn | a dispute; to wrangle | |
| 狡辯 | jiǎobiàn | to deflect blame from oneself with a dishonest story; to make excuses | |
| 辯護人 | biànhùrén | defender; defending counsel | |
| 申辯 | shēnbiàn | to defend oneself; to rebut a charge |
Questions about 辯
How many strokes are in 辯?
辯 is written with 21 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 辯 mean?
辯 (biàn) means to argue, to dispute; to discuss, to debate. A common word with it is 辩论 (biànlùn), meaning "debate; argument".
How do you pronounce 辯?
辯 is pronounced biàn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 辯?
The radical of 辯 is 辛, which carries the idea of "bitter". Dictionaries list 辯 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 辯?
辯 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 辩, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 辯論 and 爭論?
辯論 (biànlùn) often means a structured or reasoned debate, like a formal debate contest. 爭論 (zhēnglùn) is a more general word for a dispute or quarrel over opinions.
Is 狡辯 a negative word?
Yes. 狡辯 (jiǎobiàn) means to argue dishonestly or make excuses to avoid blame. Saying 別狡辯了 (bié jiǎobiàn le) means stop making excuses.