a loop of thread; shackles, fetters; to stumble, to trip
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 纟, rank #10539, Hard
绊
bàn
to hinder
HSK 7, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 纟, rank #10539, Hard
bàn(ban4) T4
1a loop of thread; shackles, fetters; to stumble, to trip
2to hinder
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March 24, 2026
绊(絆)bàn(ban4)
The character 绊 (bàn) primarily means 'to trip' or 'to stumble,' often used in contexts where someone is hindered or obstructed physically or metaphorically. It can also refer to the concept of being shackled or fettered, implying a limitation or restriction.
Strokes8Radical纟Frequency#10539DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of being 'tripped' or 'hindered' can also reflect life's challenges and obstacles, often depicted in literature and sayings that emphasize perseverance despite setbacks.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (the character 绊) tripping over a loop of thread (the radical 糸, meaning thread), causing them to stumble. The sound 'bàn' can be remembered as 'ban'—a prohibition that can also hinder progress, similar to tripping.
Meanings of 绊
bàn(ban4)
1a loop of thread; shackles, fetters; to stumble, to trip
2to hinder
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 绊
绊Simplified
絆Traditional
8Strokes
纟Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 绊
Podcast: 绊
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AI Study Notes for 绊
Quick Contrast
绊 (bàn) vs 拖 (tuō) — use 绊 when referring specifically to tripping or stumbling, while 拖 implies dragging or pulling something along.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person (the character 绊) tripping over a loop of thread (the radical 糸, meaning thread), causing them to stumble. The sound 'bàn' can be remembered as 'ban'—a prohibition that can also hinder progress, similar to tripping.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 绊 with similar sounding words that have different meanings; for example, the word '扮' (bàn) means to dress up, which is unrelated. This word is generally informal and can be used in everyday conversations about physical stumbles or metaphorically when discussing obstacles in life.
HSK Study Tips
While 绊 is not part of the official HSK levels, understanding this character can enhance vocabulary related to movement and obstruction, which might be seen in HSK 3 or 4 contexts. Focus on its usage in phrases that express hindrances or disruptions.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of being 'tripped' or 'hindered' can also reflect life's challenges and obstacles, often depicted in literature and sayings that emphasize perseverance despite setbacks.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 绊 with similar characters like ‘拌’ (bàn), which means to mix. A common error is saying '我绊了我的食物' (I tripped my food), instead of the correct '我把食物绊倒了' (I tripped over the food).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 绊
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Grammar Patterns of 绊
绊 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
电缆都是亮黄色，以防____倒人。
The cables are all bright yellow to prevent you tripping over them.
The cables are all bright yellow to prevent you tripping over them.
2
她绊了一下摔倒了，手掌和膝盖都蹭破了。
tā bàn le yī xià shuāi dǎo le， ， shǒu zhǎng hé xī gài dū cèng pò。
She stumbled and fell, scraping her palms and knees.
3
我只是绊了一下，周围就变成了一片黑暗。
wǒ zhī shì bàn le yī xià， ， zhōu wéi jiù biàn chéng le yī piàn hēi。
I make it into the darkness with only one stumble.
4
他在不平的地上绊了一跤,摔了个嘴啃地.
tā zài bù píng de dì shàng bàn le yī jiāo, , shuāi le gè zuǐ kěn.
He stumbled on the uneven ground and fell flat on his face.
5
我绊了一下，伤到了脚。
wǒ bàn le yī xià， ， shāng dào le。
I tripped up and hurt my foot.
6
有人伸出一条腿,把我绊倒了.
yǒu rén shēn chū yī tiáo tuǐ, , bǎ wǒ bàn dǎo.
Someone stuck a leg out and tripped me up.
7
他们吹口哨挑逗我，我窘迫之下绊了一跤。
tā mén chuī kǒu shào tiāo dòu wǒ， ， wǒ jiǒng pò zhī xià bàn le yī。
They wolf-whistled at me, and I was so embarrassed I tripped up.
8
他绊倒在地，膝盖上蹭破了皮。
tā bàn dǎo zài dì， ， xī gài shàng cèng pò le。
He had stumbled down and torn the skin from his knees.
9
他绊了一下,撞翻了椅子.
tā bàn le yī xià, , zhuàng fān le yǐ.
He stumbled and overthrew the chair.
10
卡尔顿弯下腰去拾医生的外衣 -- 它几乎绊住了他的脚.
kǎ ěr dùn wān xià yāo qù shí yī shēng de wài yī-- -- tā jī hū bàn zhù le tā de.
Carton stooped to pick up the coat, which lay almost entangling his feet.
Cultural Notes for 绊
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of being 'tripped' or 'hindered' can also reflect life's challenges and obstacles, often depicted in literature and sayings that emphasize perseverance despite setbacks.
Word Family of 绊
Words Containing This Character8
绊倒to trip絆倒
绊bànto trip絆
羁绊trammels羈絆
绊脚石obstacle絆腳石
牵绊to bind牽絆
磕磕绊绊bumpy (of a road)磕磕絆絆
绊住to entangle絆住
绊脚to stumble over sth絆腳
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 绊倒 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 绊
You might hear phrases like '绊倒' (bàn dǎo), which means 'to trip over,' or '绊手绊脚' (bàn shǒu bàn jiǎo), meaning 'to hinder or obstruct someone.'
Yes, it can describe obstacles in life or challenges that hinder progress, not just physical stumbling.
It is pronounced as 'bàn,' with a falling tone, similar to the word 'ban' in English.
