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芬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
芬
fēn
aroma, fragrance, perfume
zg, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4650, Hard
fēn(fen1)fen T1
1aroma, fragrance, perfume
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March 24, 2026
芬fēn(fen1)
The character 芬 (fēn) refers to a pleasant aroma or fragrance, often associated with flowers or perfumes. It conveys a sense of beauty and allure, commonly used in contexts related to scents, such as describing perfumes or the fragrance of nature.
Strokes7Radical艹Frequency#4650DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, fragrances play a significant role in traditional practices like tea ceremonies, where the aroma of tea is appreciated as much as its taste. The word 芬 evokes a sense of refinement and is often used in poetic expressions.
Memory tip
Imagine a beautiful flower (the radical 芬) releasing a delightful scent that fills the air. The character looks like a flower with its petals open, and you can remember 'fēn' by thinking of the fragrant breeze that carries its aroma.
Meanings of 芬
fēn(fen1)
1aroma, fragrance, perfume
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 芬 means.
About 芬
芬Simplified
7Strokes
艹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 芬
Podcast: 芬
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AI study notes for 芬
Quick Contrast
香 (xiāng) - use 芬 for floral or delicate scents, while 香 is broader, including strong or savory aromas.
Usage Notes
While 芬 is primarily used in literary or poetic contexts, learners should be cautious not to confuse it with more general terms for smell or odor. It is more formal and is often used in conjunction with other words to describe specific types of fragrances, such as '香芬' (xiāng fēn) for 'fragrant aroma.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 芬 is not part of the standard HSK levels, it connects well with vocabulary related to nature and beauty, such as 花 (huā, flower) and 香 (xiāng, fragrant). Students should focus on recognizing it in reading contexts and learning its collocations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 芬 with the more generic 香 (xiāng), which means 'fragrant' but can apply to a broader range of smells. For example, saying '这香很好' (This fragrance is good) should be '这芬芳很好' to specifically highlight the pleasant aroma.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 芬
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 芬 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.
芬 = 艹 + 分. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 芬
IDS Structure⿱艹分
芬Full character
=
艹cao3
top
分fen1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 芬?
How to say aroma, fragrance, perfume in Chinese
“aroma, fragrance, perfume” in Chinese is芬fēn
The character 芬 (fēn) refers to a pleasant aroma or fragrance, often associated with flowers or perfumes. It conveys a sense of beauty and allure, commonly used in contexts related to scents, such as describing perfumes or the fragrance of nature.
When to use 芬
While 芬 is primarily used in literary or poetic contexts, learners should be cautious not to confuse it with more general terms for smell or odor. It is more formal and is often used in conjunction with other words to describe specific types of fragrances, such as '香芬' (xiāng fēn) for 'fragrant aroma.'
芬 or something close to it
香 (xiāng) - use 芬 for floral or delicate scents, while 香 is broader, including strong or savory aromas.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 芬 with the more generic 香 (xiāng), which means 'fragrant' but can apply to a broader range of smells. For example, saying '这香很好' (This fragrance is good) should be '这芬芳很好' to specifically highlight the pleasant aroma.
Write 芬
芬
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Practice writing 芬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 芬
芬 carries one core meaning. 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我喜爱歌剧，去年我搞到几张科____园皇家歌剧院的票。
I love opera and last year I got tickets for Covent Garden.
