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嫔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
嫔píncourtesan; palace maidg, 13 strokes, radical 女
嫔pínimperial concubineunknown, 13 strokes, radical 女
pín(pin2)pin T2
  1. 1courtesan; palace maid
  2. 2imperial concubine
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March 24, 2026

嫔(嬪)pín(pin2)

The character 嫔 (pín) refers to a courtesan, palace maid, or imperial concubine in historical Chinese contexts. This term is often used to signify women who held positions of influence or favor within royal courts, highlighting their roles in the intricate social and political dynamics of imperial China.

Strokes13Radical女
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the role of the 嫔 was significant in the imperial system, where concubines could wield considerable power and influence, often affecting political decisions and lineage.

Memory tip

Imagine a royal palace filled with beautiful women. The character 嫔 has the radical 女 (nǚ), which means 'woman', symbolizing the feminine aspect of the courtesan. The sound 'pín' can remind you of a 'pin' that holds together the delicate fabric of royal life, suggesting the importance of these women in maintaining the court's harmony.

Meanings of 嫔

pín(pin2)
1courtesan; palace maid
2imperial concubine
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 嫔

嫔Simplified
嬪Traditional
13Strokes
女Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 嫔

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Podcast: 嫔

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AI Study Notes for 嫔

Usage Notes

While 嫔 is a historical term, it can still appear in literature or discussions about imperial history. Be mindful of its formal tone; using it in casual conversation may sound out of place. Common collocations include phrases related to imperial families or historical dramas.

HSK Study Tips

Although 嫔 is not part of any HSK level, studying it can enhance your understanding of Chinese history and literature. Focus on related terms like 妃 (fēi, consort) and 后 (hòu, empress) to grasp the hierarchical structure within royal courts.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 嫔 with 妃, assuming they are interchangeable. Remember, 嫔 implies a lower status than 妃. Using 嫔 in everyday conversation can also be inappropriate, as it is mainly used in historical discussions.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 嫔

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Etymology of 嫔

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 宾 represents the sound. Simplified form of 嬪.

Memory hint

woman

Semantic (meaning)女
+
Phonetic (sound)宾
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

嫔 = 女 + 宾. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 嫔

IDS Structure⿰女宾
嫔Full character
=
女nü3
left
宾bin1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 嫔?

How to say courtesan; palace maid in Chinese

“courtesan; palace maid” in Chinese is嫔pín

The character 嫔 (pín) refers to a courtesan, palace maid, or imperial concubine in historical Chinese contexts. This term is often used to signify women who held positions of influence or favor within royal courts, highlighting their roles in the intricate social and political dynamics of imperial China.

When to use 嫔

While 嫔 is a historical term, it can still appear in literature or discussions about imperial history. Be mindful of its formal tone; using it in casual conversation may sound out of place. Common collocations include phrases related to imperial families or historical dramas.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 嫔 with 妃, assuming they are interchangeable. Remember, 嫔 implies a lower status than 妃. Using 嫔 in everyday conversation can also be inappropriate, as it is mainly used in historical discussions.

Write 嫔

嫔

Practice writing 嫔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 嫔

Words containing this character3
嫔pínimperial concubine嬪
嫔妃imperial concubine嬪妃
妃嫔imperial concubine妃嬪
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 嫔

What does 嫔妃 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 嫔

嫔 (pín) typically refers to a lower-ranking concubine, while 妃 (fēi) denotes a higher-ranking consort.

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