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March 24, 2026
皿mǐn(min3)
The character 皿 (mǐn) refers to a dish or vessel, typically a shallow container used for holding food or other items. It is commonly used in contexts related to dining or serving, and can also represent the concept of receptacles in a broader sense.
Strokes5Radical皿Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the presentation of food is important, and the type of dish used can convey respect and care for guests. The character 皿 captures this essence of hospitality in its representation of food vessels.
Memory Tip
Imagine a shallow dish with a flat bottom and slightly raised edges. The character 皿 resembles this shape, with the top lines representing the rim of the dish. Think of 'mǐn' sounding like 'mean' — a mean dish that doesn’t hold too much!
Meanings of 皿
mǐn(min3)
1dish, vessel; shallow container
2rad. no. 108
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 皿
皿Simplified
5Strokes
皿Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 皿
Podcast: 皿
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AI Study Notes for 皿
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a shallow dish with a flat bottom and slightly raised edges. The character 皿 resembles this shape, with the top lines representing the rim of the dish. Think of 'mǐn' sounding like 'mean' — a mean dish that doesn’t hold too much!
Usage Notes
皿 is often used in compound words to refer to various types of dishes or containers, such as in 盘子 (pánzi, plate). Be careful not to confuse it with similar characters like 碗 (wǎn, bowl), which has a deeper shape. It's an informal character, so it's commonly seen in everyday conversation rather than formal writing.
HSK Study Tips
皿 is not included in the HSK levels but is useful for learners at the beginner stage to expand their vocabulary related to dining. Focus on recognizing it in context, especially when learning food-related vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the presentation of food is important, and the type of dish used can convey respect and care for guests. The character 皿 captures this essence of hospitality in its representation of food vessels.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 皿 with other similar characters like 碗 (wǎn, bowl) or 盆 (pén, basin). Remember that 皿 specifically denotes shallow dishes, so avoid using it to refer to deeper containers.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 皿
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Grammar Patterns of 皿
皿 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他用铜、不锈钢和银制造装饰性器____。
He makes decorative vessels in copper, stainless steel and silver.
tā gěi zhè gè jiù de dù yín qì mǐn zhòng xīn dù yín.
He plated the old silver again.
5
那批玻璃器皿损坏了很多.
nà pī bō lí qì mǐn sǔn huài le hěn duō.
There was a great deal of breakage in that shipment of glassware.
Cultural Notes for 皿
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the presentation of food is important, and the type of dish used can convey respect and care for guests. The character 皿 captures this essence of hospitality in its representation of food vessels.
Word Family of 皿
Words Containing This Character3
器皿household utensils
皿mǐndish
培养皿Petri dish培養皿
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 器皿 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 皿
Common words include 盘 (pán, plate), 碟 (dié, small dish), and 餐具 (cānjù, tableware).
皿 itself is not commonly used in idioms, but it frequently appears in words related to dining.
