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棻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
棻fēnsandalwoodzg, 12 strokes, radical 木
棻fēnaromatic woodunknown, 12 strokes, radical 木
棻fēnperfumeunknown, 12 strokes, radical 木
棻fēnfragranceunknown, 12 strokes, radical 木
fēn(fen1)fen T1
  1. 1sandalwood
  2. 2aromatic wood
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March 24, 2026

棻fēn(fen1)

The character 棻 (fēn) refers to sandalwood, a type of aromatic wood known for its fragrant properties. It's commonly used in incense, perfumes, and traditional Chinese medicine, highlighting its significance in cultural and spiritual practices.

Strokes12Radical木
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, sandalwood is highly valued not only for its fragrance but also for its use in rituals and meditation practices. It's often associated with spiritual purity and is used in temples to create a serene atmosphere.

Memory tip

Imagine a fragrant sandalwood tree (木) growing tall and strong, with its aroma (芬) filling the air. The character combines the wood radical (木) and the phonetic component (芬), which also means 'fragrance'. Picture a tree that, when cut, releases a sweet scent that wraps around you like a warm hug.

Meanings of 棻

fēn(fen1)
1sandalwood
2aromatic wood
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 棻

棻Simplified
12Strokes
木Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 棻

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AI study notes for 棻

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 棻 is more formal and often used in literary contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with other types of wood, like 杉 (shān, cedar), which is less aromatic. When discussing scents or fragrances, it’s best to pair this word with terms like 香 (xiāng) for a more vivid description.

HSK Study Tips

While 棻 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to HSK level 3 and 4 words related to nature and scents, like 香 (xiāng) for 'fragrant'. Students should focus on recognizing this character in texts about traditional Chinese practices or perfumery.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 棻 with other similar-sounding words like 芬 (fēn, fragrance), which refers specifically to scent rather than the wood itself. Correct usage would be to specify 棻 when discussing the wood or its applications.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 棻

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Etymology of 棻

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

tree

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

Origin

棻 = 木 + 分. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 棻

IDS Structure⿱艹⿱分木
棻Full character
=
艹cao3
top
分fen1
top
木Mu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 棻?

How to say sandalwood in Chinese

“sandalwood” in Chinese is棻fēn

The character 棻 (fēn) refers to sandalwood, a type of aromatic wood known for its fragrant properties. It's commonly used in incense, perfumes, and traditional Chinese medicine, highlighting its significance in cultural and spiritual practices.

When to use 棻

Be mindful that 棻 is more formal and often used in literary contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with other types of wood, like 杉 (shān, cedar), which is less aromatic. When discussing scents or fragrances, it’s best to pair this word with terms like 香 (xiāng) for a more vivid description.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 棻 with other similar-sounding words like 芬 (fēn, fragrance), which refers specifically to scent rather than the wood itself. Correct usage would be to specify 棻 when discussing the wood or its applications.

Write 棻

棻

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

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Word Family of 棻

Words containing this character1
棻fēnperfume

Frequently asked questions about 棻

Sandalwood is used in incense for meditation, in traditional medicine, and as an ingredient in perfumes.

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