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檳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
檳bīnbetel-nut, areca nutx, 18 strokes, radical 木
bīn(bin1)bin T1
  1. 1betel-nut, areca nut
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March 24, 2026

檳bīn(bin1)

The character 檳 (bīn) refers to the betel nut, which is the seed of the areca palm and is commonly chewed in various cultures, especially in Southeast Asia. This nut is often associated with social and cultural practices, and it has stimulant effects similar to caffeine. In Chinese contexts, it is often linked to traditional customs and rituals.

Strokes18Radical木
Cultural note

In many parts of Southern China and Southeast Asia, chewing betel nut is a traditional practice that is often associated with hospitality and social gatherings. It is also seen in ceremonies and is part of some local medicinal practices.

Memory tip

Imagine a tree (木) with a nut (子) hanging from its branches, representing the areca palm tree. The '木' (tree) and '子' (child/nut) combine to form 檳. Visualize someone chewing the nut and feeling energized, which helps you remember the pronunciation 'bīn'.

Meanings of 檳

bīn(bin1)
1betel-nut, areca nut
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 檳

檳Simplified
18Strokes
木Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 檳

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AI study notes for 檳

Usage Notes

When using 檳 in conversation, it's important to be aware that it may not be familiar to all Mandarin speakers, particularly in regions where betel nut is not commonly consumed. It's more likely to be encountered in discussions about culture or traditional practices. Be cautious with the tone, as the first tone 'bīn' can be easily confused with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 檳 is not a standard HSK vocabulary word, it could be relevant for learners at HSK Level 3 and above when discussing cultural topics. Students should focus on the context in which betel nut is mentioned, as well as related vocabulary about food and traditions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 檳 with similar characters such as 幸 (xìng), which means 'luck', due to similar pronunciation. It's essential to practice the tones and context to avoid such mix-ups.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 檳

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Etymology of 檳

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

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 宾 represents the sound. Simplified form of 檳.

Memory hint

tree

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

Origin

檳 = 木 + 賓. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 檳

IDS Structure⿰木賓
檳Full character
=
木Mu4
left
賓bin1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 檳?

How to say betel-nut, areca nut in Chinese

“betel-nut, areca nut” in Chinese is檳bīn

The character 檳 (bīn) refers to the betel nut, which is the seed of the areca palm and is commonly chewed in various cultures, especially in Southeast Asia. This nut is often associated with social and cultural practices, and it has stimulant effects similar to caffeine. In Chinese contexts, it is often linked to traditional customs and rituals.

When to use 檳

When using 檳 in conversation, it's important to be aware that it may not be familiar to all Mandarin speakers, particularly in regions where betel nut is not commonly consumed. It's more likely to be encountered in discussions about culture or traditional practices. Be cautious with the tone, as the first tone 'bīn' can be easily confused with other similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 檳 with similar characters such as 幸 (xìng), which means 'luck', due to similar pronunciation. It's essential to practice the tones and context to avoid such mix-ups.

Write 檳

檳

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

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Word Family of 檳

Words containing this character6
香槟champagne (loanword)香檳
槟榔betel nut檳榔
香槟酒champagne (loanword)香檳酒
槟bīnbetel nut檳
槟城Penang (state in Malaysia)檳城
槟榔屿Penang Pulau (Island), Malaysia檳榔嶼
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 檳

What does 香槟 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 檳

Betel nut is often chewed for its stimulant effects and is used in social and cultural rituals.

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