Meanings of 翩
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About 翩
Podcast: 翩
Podcast: 翩
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AI Study Notes for 翩
翱 (áo) - use 翩 for graceful, light movements, while 翱 suggests soaring or flying high.
This character is typically used in more poetic or descriptive contexts rather than everyday conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words; always remember it relates specifically to graceful flight. Common collocations include phrases describing the movement of birds and dancers.
Though not part of the HSK curriculum, learning 翩 can enhance your vocabulary relating to nature and movement. Focus on its poetic usage and try connecting it with other movement-related words, such as 飞 (fēi) meaning 'to fly'.
Learners often confuse 翩 with 飞 (fēi), which simply means 'to fly' without the nuance of grace. For example, saying '我翩去北京' (wǒ piān qù běijīng) to mean 'I fly to Beijing' is incorrect; the correct term would be '我飞去北京' (wǒ fēi qù běijīng).
Pronunciation of 翩
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Etymology of 翩
Phonosemantic compound. 羽 represents the meaning and 扁 represents the sound.
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Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 翩
Phonosemantic compound. 羽 represents the meaning and 扁 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half羽 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half扁 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaywings
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 翩? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 翩
Identify the Components
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How to say to fly, to flutter in Chinese
“to fly, to flutter” in Chinese is翩
The character 翩 (piān) conveys the action of flying or fluttering with grace and lightness. It is often used in literary contexts to describe birds or butterflies in flight, emphasizing elegance and swiftness.
When to use 翩
This character is typically used in more poetic or descriptive contexts rather than everyday conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words; always remember it relates specifically to graceful flight. Common collocations include phrases describing the movement of birds and dancers.
翩 or something close to it
翱 (áo) - use 翩 for graceful, light movements, while 翱 suggests soaring or flying high.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 翩 with 飞 (fēi), which simply means 'to fly' without the nuance of grace. For example, saying '我翩去北京' (wǒ piān qù běijīng) to mean 'I fly to Beijing' is incorrect; the correct term would be '我飞去北京' (wǒ fēi qù běijīng).
Write 翩
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Practice writing 翩 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 翩
翩 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.
Complete the Sentence
那位女演员身穿飘逸的长裙____然走进房间.
The actress sailed into the room in her flowing dress.
Example Sentences for 翩 (5)
Word Family of 翩
Compound Meaning
What does 翩翩起舞 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 翩
It is pronounced as 'piān', where the 'p' is unaspirated, similar to the 'p' in 'spend'.
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