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March 24, 2026
篮(籃)lán(lan2)
The character 篮 (lán) primarily means 'basket' and is often used in contexts involving sports, especially basketball. It can also refer to a goal in various sports, indicating the target area where points are scored.
Strokes16Radical⺮Frequency#5662DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Basketball is immensely popular in China, with the NBA having a significant following. The term 篮 is often encountered in discussions about basketball, showcasing the sport's cultural integration into Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a round, woven basket (篮) filled with colorful balls. The shape of the character resembles the circular form of a basket, while the sound 'lán' can be remembered by thinking of 'land' where the basket rests.
Meanings of 篮
lán(lan2)
1basket
2goal
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 篮 means.
About 篮
篮Simplified
籃Traditional
16Strokes
⺮Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5662Frequency Rank
Podcast: 篮
Podcast: 篮
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AI Study Notes for 篮
Quick Contrast
篮 (lán) vs 桶 (tǒng) — use 篮 when specifically referring to a basket, especially in sports, while 桶 refers to a barrel or container.
Usage Notes
This term is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in sports discussions. A common mistake is confusing it with other similar-sounding words, so pay attention to pronunciation. It often collocates with '球' (qiú, ball) as in '篮球' (basketball).
HSK Study Tips
Although 篮 is not specifically listed in the official HSK levels, it is useful for learners aiming to discuss sports or leisure activities. Focus on its application with related sports vocabulary to enhance contextual understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 篮 (lán) with other similar characters like 蓝 (lán, blue). Remember that 篮 specifically relates to a basket or goal. A wrong example would be saying '我喜欢蓝球' (I like blue ball) instead of '我喜欢篮球' (I like basketball).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 篮
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How Well Do You Know 篮?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 篮 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
篮 = ⺮ + 监. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 篮
IDS Structure⿱⺮监
篮Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
监jian1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 篮?
How to say basket in Chinese
“basket” in Chinese is篮lán
The character 篮 (lán) primarily means 'basket' and is often used in contexts involving sports, especially basketball. It can also refer to a goal in various sports, indicating the target area where points are scored.
When to use 篮
This term is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in sports discussions. A common mistake is confusing it with other similar-sounding words, so pay attention to pronunciation. It often collocates with '球' (qiú, ball) as in '篮球' (basketball).
篮 or something close to it
篮 (lán) vs 桶 (tǒng) — use 篮 when specifically referring to a basket, especially in sports, while 桶 refers to a barrel or container.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 篮 (lán) with other similar characters like 蓝 (lán, blue). Remember that 篮 specifically relates to a basket or goal. A wrong example would be saying '我喜欢蓝球' (I like blue ball) instead of '我喜欢篮球' (I like basketball).
Write 篮
篮
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Grammar Patterns of 篮
篮 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
